MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. The Mi-8 helicopter that crashed on Sunday in Russia’s Nenets Autonomous Area was charted to transport rotation workers of the Belomortrans company. According to updated information, there were seven persons onboard the helicopter, a representative of the Bashneft Ployus company, the Belomotrans contractor, told TASS.
The helicopter was chartered from the Arkhangelsk aviation department, which which Bashneft Polyus has no agent contract for transportation services, the representative said, providing no further details.
Two of those onboard, including the flight engineer were killed, and four were badly injured in the crash. One person is practically intact, a source in the the local emergencies services told TASS.
“A doctor who along with rescuers reached the crash site said that these four had very serious injuries, including an open craniocerebral trauma and spinal fractures,” the source said.
“A Mi-8 helicopter with rescuers and four doctors is to take off from Naryan-Mar /the capital city of the Nenets Area, the source said, adding that it would take about one hour to reach the crash site.
Meanwhile, the Northwestern transport prosecutor’s office has launched a check into the accident. Investigators will be sent to the crash site.
On Sunday, a Mi-8 helicopter with three passengers and three crew members fell down some 25 kilometres of Varandy in the Nenets Autonomous Area. The helicopter had left from Varandey for Naryan-Mar.
The Nenets Autonomous Area is located at north-easternmost corner of mainland Europe. It is home to the indigenous Nenets people whose language is unrelated to Russian, religion is animistic and traditional occupation is nomadic reindeer herding.