On September 1, The Moscow Times reported that rescuers found a helicopter carrying 22 people that crashed in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 's Far East , and discovered 17 bodies.
According to Kamchatka authorities, the helicopter went missing shortly after takeoff on August 31, carrying 19 passengers and three crew members. Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said rescuers found part of the helicopter on the morning of September 1, in a mountainous area at an altitude of about 900 meters.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry released footage showing the helicopter's wreckage lying on a steep slope near the top of a hill, which was covered with trees.
The helicopter that crashed was operated by the Kamchatka-based Vityaz-Aero company, which organizes flights for tourists. Officials said the helicopter may have crashed due to poor visibility conditions.
Accidents involving planes and helicopters are common in Russia's Far East, where there are few people and some areas can only be reached by helicopter.
In August 2021, an Mi-8 helicopter carrying 16 people, including 13 tourists, crashed into a lake in Kamchatka due to poor visibility, killing eight people. That same year, a plane crashed while landing on the peninsula, carrying 22 passengers and six crew members. All were killed.
