MOSCOW, September 1. /TASS/. The Mi-8 helicopter that went missing in Kamchatka earlier has crashed; rescue teams have discovered its fragments from the air, the Ministry of Emergency Situations told TASS.

"Fragments of the helicopter that went missing earlier have been found from the air. The fragments are located at the altitude of 900 meters, near the location of last communication," the ministry press office said.

Later the ministry said that rescuers discovered bodies of 17 people at the crash site.

"Bodies of 17 people have been found already. The search continues," the ministry said.

Currently, 9 rescuers are working at the scene.

The Mi-8 helicopter, owned by Vityaz-Aero, was flying from the Vachkazhets mountain range to Nikolayevka. There were 22 people onboard: 19 passengers and 3 crew members. The crew was supposed to make radio contact at about 7:15 Moscow time on August 31, but that did not happen.

According to emergency services, the crash is believed to have been caused by a piloting mistake. The helicopter presumably crashed into the mountain in low visibility conditions.