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Russian Investigative Committee begins probe into copter crash in Istanbul

On March 12, the bodies are expected to be transferred to St. Petersburg’s forensic agency for carrying out forensic and other tests, including DNA tests

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee (IC) has begun investigating the helicopter crash in Istanbul on March 10, in which four residents of St. Petersburg died, the IC press service said on Saturday.

"The North-Western transport investigative department of the Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case on signs of the crime envisioned in Article 263, Part 3 of the Russian Criminal Code (violations of safety regulations and of flight operation resulting in more than two deaths)," the Investigative Committee said.

The IC head is supervising the investigation.

The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed on Friday morning. The rotorcraft took off from Ataturk Airport and about five minutes later crashed. There were seven persons aboard: two pilots and five passengers, including four Russians. All the people aboard the helicopter died in the crash.

"At present, we are searching for relatives. On March 12, the bodies are expected to be transferred to St. Petersburg’s forensic agency for carrying out forensic and other tests, including DNA tests," the IC said.

A probe into all the circumstances behind the crash is underway.