Russian helicopter with 22 on board goes missing in far east: Report
- Mi-8 helicopter extensively used in Russia, designed in 1960s
- Earlier crash on August 12 with 16 on board in Kamchatka
- Kamchatka popular for nature, 6,000 km east of Moscow
Russian Helicopter Missing in Kamchatka Peninsula
A Russian helicopter carrying three crew members and 19 passengers has gone missing in the Kamchatka Peninsula, according to preliminary reports from the federal air transport agency, as reported by Interfax news agency on Saturday. The Mi-8T helicopter, which had taken off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano, failed to make its scheduled report at 04:00 GMT, according to Reuters.
The Mi-8, a two-engine helicopter designed in the 1960s, remains a common choice in Russia and neighboring countries for various operations.
Previous Incident Involving Mi-8 Helicopter
Earlier, on August 12, another Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Russia’s Far East region of Kamchatka. This incident involved a helicopter operated by Vityaz-Aero, which had 16 people on board, including 13 passengers and three crew members. The helicopter, which was transporting tourists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, made a hard landing near a lake on the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula before falling into the lake, as reported by the local emergency service and RIA state news agency.
Kamchatka Peninsula Overview
The Kamchatka Peninsula, located over 6,000 km (3,728 miles) east of Moscow and about 2,000 km west of Alaska, is known for its natural beauty and attracts many tourists.
