There were 22 people on board the Mi-8 helicopter that crashed yesterday shortly after takeoff in the Russian territory of Kamchatka. Rescuers found the bodies of 17 victims. Also on board were the financial director of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Arseny Zamyatin and his wife Polina Zamyatina. This was reported by Radio Free Europe although there is no official confirmation.

Rescuers from the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations have arrived at the scene of the accident and the search is continuing. According to preliminary information, the helicopter of the Vityaz-Aero airline carrying 22 people, including 3 crew members, disappeared yesterday afternoon almost immediately after takeoff from the site of the Vachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka region.

The helicopter fragments were found at an altitude of 900 meters near the place where the crew had reported its position before losing contact with the control tower. Initial investigations indicate that the crash was caused by pilot error "who did not know how to manage the difficult weather conditions", as indicated by the body responsible for emergency situations. At the time of the crash, in fact, a thick fog had risen. A criminal case has been opened on the accident for violation of traffic safety and aircraft operations regulations.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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