Kamchatka helicopter crash claims 22 lives amidst bad weather
All individuals on board the Mi-8 helicopter that went missing on Saturday in Kamchatka have died, the rescue services reported. "At this moment, 17 bodies have already been found, and the search continues," stated the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
On Sunday, late morning Eastern Time, the wreckage of the Mi-8 helicopter, which crashed on Saturday in Kamchatka, was found. There were 22 people on board - 19 passengers and three crew members. So far, 17 bodies have been found.
It crashed on an elevation
The aircraft went missing after taking off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano in eastern Russia's southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The flight's destination was the village of Nikolayevka.
"Most likely due to poor visibility (bad weather conditions), the helicopter crashed on an elevation," added the rescue services, cited by RIA Novosti.
Over the weekend, a cyclone hit Kamchatka, accompanied by strong winds and rain. It has not yet been determined whether the bad weather conditions caused the crash.
The wreckage of the aircraft is located at an elevation of around 1,000 metres.
Investigation into the tragedy
The Mi-8 is a twin-engine helicopter designed in the 1960s, frequently used in Russian air transport.
The Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case based on the article concerning the violation of "safety regulations for air traffic and operation."
