- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Rescuers Still Unable to Reach Downed Russian Helicopter

© Sputnik / Alexey DanichevMi-8 helicopter (archive)
Mi-8 helicopter (archive) - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A seriously injured female passenger who initially survived a helicopter accident Tuesday in northeastern Russia was reported dead a day later as rescue teams struggled to reach the remote crash site in foggy conditions.

MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) – A seriously injured female passenger who initially survived a helicopter accident Tuesday in northeastern Russia was reported dead a day later as rescue teams struggled to reach the remote crash site in foggy conditions.

The Mi-8 helicopter was carrying 28 people, including 11 children, when it came down in the Siberian republic of Yakutia at 10:40 a.m. local time Tuesday.

The Interstate Aviation Committee, which investigates air accidents in Russia, initially said 19 people were killed, but this remained unconfirmed by the Emergencies Ministry, whose rescue teams have yet to reach the site.

“There is a version of events that says that out of the 28 people [on the helicopter], three crew members, one woman and a two year-old girl survived Tuesday. There is information that a badly wounded woman could have died. The condition of one of the crew members is very serious,” said a regional government source who requested anonymity.

Despite a large search operation involving nine aircraft and almost 400 people, the wreckage of the helicopter and the survivors had apparently not been located over 30 hours after the crash.

“We are not confirming that the helicopter has been found,” an Emergencies Ministry spokesman said Wednesday morning.

 

Confusion over the location of the crash site appeared to be the reason behind the delay in finding it. But the Emergencies Ministry said in a statement that the pilot of the aircraft managed to contact the agency overnight by satellite phone, allowing his position to be pinpointed.

Weather conditions were also hampering the search. Despite the short Arctic summer nights, there was low cloud, fog and rain in the area of the downed helicopter, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the village of Deputatsky, according to the Emergencies Ministry.

The passengers flying in the helicopter during the crash included families returning from holiday as well as several local officials, two of whom were on the supervisory board of diamond mining company Alrosa, the Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday.

The crash reportedly took place after the helicopter encountered severe turbulence and struck a hill with its tail during a regular passenger flight. Russia’s Soviet-designed passenger helicopters are the only reliable mode of transport to remote settlements in Yakutia and other regions of Russia where there are often no rail or road links.

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала