MOSCOW: Rescuers on Sunday said they had found 17 bodies after a helicopter crashed with 22 people aboard in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula in the far east. The Mi-8 helicopter, which was carrying 19 tourists and 3 crew members, went missing shortly after takeoff on Saturday.
Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed in a video posted on Telegram that rescuers located the wreckage of the helicopter in a hilly area at an elevation of 900 meters. The debris was found on a slope near the summit of a large wooded hill, approximately at the location where the aircraft went off the radar.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations released aerial footage showing the scattered remains of the helicopter. The footage showed debris strewn across the hillside, which was captured by a rescue team that had been deployed to the scene.
Ivan Lemikhov, a spokesperson for the emergency situations ministry, reported, “At this moment, we have already found 17 bodies. The search operations have been temporarily halted until daybreak to ensure the safety of the rescuers.”
The helicopter, a Soviet-designed Mi-8, is a widely used aircraft in Russia for both military and civilian purposes. It was operated by Vityaz-aero, a Kamchatka-based company specializing in tourist flights. The crash underscores the inherent risks of aviation in Russia’s far eastern region, which is characterized by its rugged terrain and limited accessibility.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, including active volcanoes and pristine natural environments, making it a popular destination for adventure tourism. However, the region’s challenging conditions and sparse population contribute to frequent aviation accidents.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of helicopter crashes in the area. In August 2021, a Mi-8 helicopter carrying 16 people, including 13 tourists, crashed into a lake in Kamchatka due to poor visibility, resulting in the deaths of eight persons. Earlier that year, a plane crash on the peninsula killed all 28 people on board, including 22 passengers and six crew members.
