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Mi-8 accident supposedly caused by loss of control in air flow

There were reports about deaths, but the information is not confirmed
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 2 (Itar-Tass) - The Mi-8 helicopter made a hard landing in Yakutia supposedly because of loss of control, an official source in the republic told Itar-Tass.

According to the preliminary information, the Mi-8 fell on a hill when it was out of control because of air flows.

Information about victims was not confirmed.

There were reports about deaths, but the information is not confirmed, the Yakutian police press service told Itar-Tass.

The crew captain contacted rescuers. He said nobody died, a police source confirmed.

The information that the Mi-8 made a hard landing 45 km northwest of the airfield at the settlement of Deputatsky in the Ust-Yana district was received by the Russian Emergencies ministry’s crisis management centre in Yakutia at 05:20 Moscow time on Tuesday. The captain gave the information, using satellite communication, the press service of the Far Eastern regional centre of the Emergencies Ministry said.

The helicopter was on a flight from the settlement of Deputatsky to the village of Kazachye. According to the preliminary information, 28 people were aboard - three crew and 25 passengers, including three children.

Helicopters with rescuers and medical specialists were sent from the settlements of Batagai and Tiksi to the crash site.

An An-26 plane of Polar Airlines is also ready in Yakutsk to fly out. If necessary, an EMERCOM An-74 plane with rescuers and psychologists aboard will be sent to the site.