A Mi-8T helicopter with 22 people on board, including three
crew members and 19 passengers, has gone missing in Russia’s Kamchatka region
after leaving the Vachkazhets volcano area, TASS reported on Aug. 31.
The helicopter lost communication, and another aircraft has
been dispatched for search and rescue operations.
Kamchatka investigators have launched a probe into potential
violations of traffic safety and air transport regulations, Russian media
report.
Previously, on June 21, a Robinson R-66 helicopter crashedin Russia’s Amur Oblast, killing the pilot and three passengers. On July 22,
another Robinson helicopter crashed in Yakutia, possibly involving employees of
the Russian FSB.
The recent increase in aviation accidents in Russia is
attributed to Western sanctions that have restricted the supply of components
to Russia.
On July 25, an Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed in Russia’s
Kaluga Oblast, resulting in the deaths of the crew.