JUST IN: Tourist Helicopter Crash Claims 17 Lives

A tragic helicopter crash occurred over the weekend in Russia’s Far East, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people. The incident took place near the Vachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the helicopter was transporting 22 individuals, including crew members.

Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov confirmed the crash, noting that the helicopter, an Mi-8, had taken off from the Vachkazhets area and was en route to the village of Nikolaevka when the accident happened.

Emergency officials located the wreckage and reported that 17 bodies were recovered from the site, based on the last communication from the helicopter’s crew. The severity of the wreckage has led authorities to conclude that no survivors are anticipated.

An investigation has been launched into potential violations of traffic safety and aviation regulations related to the crash. The helicopter operator, Vityaz-Aero, had previously faced scrutiny in 2021 for a similar incident involving a crash into Kamchatka’s crater lake.