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Russian Air Force resumes flights of Mil Mi-24 helicopters

The Spassk-Dalny garrison department of the Russian Investigation Committee opened a criminal case on the charges of violations of flight safety rules with lethal consequences

MOSCOW, September 6 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Air Force has resumed flights of Mil Mi-24 helicopters, Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik told Itar-Tass.

“The Russian Air Force commander has permitted to resume flights of Mil Mi-24 helicopters, which were suspended on August 26 following a Mi-24 crash in the Primorye territory. The crash is still being investigated,” Drik said.

The Mi-24 of the Russian Air Force crashed during a training flight near the village of Merkushevka in the Primorye territory on August 26. It caught fire after the crash landing. A helicopter engineer died in the fire. The other two crewmembers are alive. The experts said that the helicopter could not be restored.

The Spassk-Dalny garrison department of the Russian Investigation Committee opened a criminal case on the charges of violations of flight safety rules with lethal consequences.

Mil Mi-24 is a combat helicopter designed by the Mil Company. Its serial production began in 1971. Since then over 3,000 Mi-24 helicopters have been produced. It was the first assault helicopter of the Soviet Union and the world’ s second assault helicopter after the U.S. AH-1 Cobra.