17 Fatalities in Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Crash Recovered in Kamchatka

Photo : Reuters

A helicopter crash in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula has led to the disappearance of 22 individuals onboard. So far, rescuers have recovered 17 bodies and located the wreckage of the Mi-8 helicopter, which crashed shortly after taking off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano.

The search efforts have revealed no survivors. The helicopter, operated by Kamchatka-based Vityaz-aero, was carrying 19 tourists and 3 crew members. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but the region, known for its active volcanoes, is a popular tourist spot.

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The Russian emergencies ministry has confirmed that efforts to find the remaining bodies are ongoing. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti cited the ministry suggesting that adverse weather conditions and poor visibility might have contributed to the crash. The wreckage was found from the air, according to the ministry's statement on Telegram.

This incident is reminiscent of a similar tragedy in August 2021 when another Mi-8 helicopter crashed into a lake in Kamchatka under poor visibility conditions, resulting in the deaths of 8 out of 16 people onboard.