On July 27, a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to the "Altaiavia" airline crashed during its landing approach in the village of Tyungur in the Altai Republic, Sibnet.ru has reported.
The helicopter was carrying tourists, and tragically, four people lost their lives, while several other passengers sustained severe injuries. The incident occurred while returning from a sightseeing flight to Mount Belukha, a popular destination for tourists in the region.
Eyewitnesses reported that the pilot of the crashed Mi-8 had spotted another helicopter on the landing site and attempted to land in a nearby field. However, during the landing, the helicopter unexpectedly spun around, possibly due to a sudden gust of wind, and hit an electricity transmission line support before catching fire.
Rescue efforts were challenging due to the heavy smoke and risk of explosion. Some passengers managed to escape from the burning wreckage on their own. The Mi-8 was carrying 13 tourists and three crew members, with four fatalities initially reported. However, later it was clarified that two individuals initially considered deceased had safely left the aircraft.
Among the injured passengers, four suffered serious injuries with fractures and extensive burns. Seven others were taken to the hospital in Gorno-Altaisk by helicopter, while the rest chose to remain at a local hospital. The condition of two of the transported passengers is assessed as severe, and one woman remains in critical condition. The captain of the Mi-8, 52-year-old Vyacheslav Demikhov, is among the surviving crew members, though he is in serious condition, and two others have moderate injuries.
The crash resulted in damage to the electricity transmission line, leaving two villages, Tyungur and Kucherla, without power. The electric supply was restored within two hours after the incident.
The helicopter belonged to "Altaiavia," a company that offers helicopter rental and maintenance services, as well as organizing excursions. The company operates Mi-8 helicopters of three modifications (Mi-8T, Mi-8MTV, and Mi-8AMT with VIP cabins), as well as Robinson R66 and Eurocopter AS350.
The incident has prompted an investigation by the Investigative Committee, which has filed a case under the article "Violation of Rules for the Safe Operation of Air Transport." The West Siberian Transport Prosecutor's Office is also conducting its own inquiry into the helicopter crash. Additionally, the Interstate Aviation Committee has formed a commission to investigate the accident, and preliminary findings suggest that pilot error may have been the cause.
This is the first Mi-8 crash in Russia since December 16, 2022, when a similar helicopter crashed in Ulan-Ude during landing. Regarding the number of casualties, this is the most significant incident involving an Mi-8 since August 12, 2021, when a Mi-8 crashed into Kurilskoe Lake in Kamchatka.
The Association of Russian Tour Operators confirmed that the tourists on the downed Mi-8 were part of an official tour group, and the flight had been legally registered with all necessary documents.
The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety, and authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the tragic accident.
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