On 31 August 2024, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Kamchatka Krai, Russia, killing all 22 people on board. The aircraft, which was operated by Vityaz-Aero on a sightseeing tour over the Vachkazhets volcano, crashed in poor weather shortly after take-off.
 RA-25656, the aircraft involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 August 2024 |
| Summary | Crashed in poor weather conditions, under investigation |
| Site | near the Vachkazhets Volcano, Russia |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mil Mi-8T |
| Aircraft name | Vladimir Samarsky |
| Operator | Vityaz-Aero |
| Registration | RA-25656 |
| Flight origin | Near Vachkazhets volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia |
| Destination | Nikolayevka, Kamchatka Krai, Russia |
| Occupants | 22 |
| Passengers | 19 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 22 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Background
editAircraft
editThe aircraft was a 32-year-old Mil Mi-8T, registered as RA-25656[1][2] with serial number 99254295; it was manufactured in 1992.[1][3] The aircraft was operated by Vityaz-Aero,[4][5] a firm that organises flights for tourists in the area.[6] Vityaz-Aero had acquired the aircraft 11 years prior, naming it after local helicopter pilot Vladimir Samarsky. The aircraft had received an air operator's certificate, lasting for six years, in 2022.[2] According to the CEO of Vityaz-Aero, Viktor Sirotin, the aircraft was in good working order.[7]
Passengers and crew
editThere were 19 passengers on board the flight returning from a trip to the extinct Vachkazhets volcano that had been organized by the Kamchatka Freeride Community and Moscow-based tour operator company Bolshaya Strana.[8] Among those on board was Arseny Zamyatin, the chief financial officer of the Russian Football Union; his wife, Polina Zamyatina;[8][9][10] Kirill Seregin, one of the leaders of the Kamchatka Freeride Community, a locally well-known extreme sports enthusiast as well as an experienced guide, and Mikhail Repnikov and Yulia Repnikova, the founders of Bolshaya Strana.[8]
The captain of the flight was 38-year-old Denis Bleshchik, who had been flying helicopters for 12 years.[3][8][2] A former colleague of Bleshchik said that he had all the necessary permits to fly the aircraft.[2]
Accident
editThe helicopter disappeared from radar at around 16:15 PETT (UTC+12:00) shortly after takeoff. It was due to establish communication at around the same time but failed to do so.[10] No difficulties were reported by the crew before the disappearance.[5] Eyewitnesses stated that despite the poor weather, the aircraft still took off.[11] Weather officials said that there was poor visibility in the area where it took off.[12] The Kamchatka Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring reported that fog and drizzle were present in the area of the crash.[13] The wreckage was found in a hilly area at an elevation of 900 metres (3,000 ft) near the point of the last communication, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from its destination at Nikolayevka, Yelizovsky District.[14][6]
Aftermath
editThe Governor of Kamchatka Krai, Vladimir Solodov declared 3 September to be a day of mourning in honour of the victims,[15] and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.[16] On 13 September, the founders of Vityaz-Aero dismissed CEO Viktor Sirotin as a result of the accident with Dmitry Zadirey, Deputy CEO for Flight Operations, also having been decided to be dismissed.[17]
Recovery operations
editA search operation by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations was launched.[18][5] The focus of operations was the Bystraya River valley, which was on the helicopter's flight path. Operations were hindered by fog.[5] On 1 September, the ministry reported that the crash site had been found with all 22 occupants presumed dead. It also reported that 17 bodies had been recovered from the site with the search still under way.[19][20] The search was suspended overnight due to the onset of darkness.[11] The ministry later confirmed that all 22 occupants had been killed.[14] On 2 September, the ministry reported that the bodies of all 22 on board had been found and transferred to the forensic examination authorities in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with the search and rescue operation being announced as completed.[21][22][23]
Investigation
editOn 1 September, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) launched an investigation into the accident, along with Rosaviatsia.[24][14] The local branch of the Investigative Committee of Russia (ICRF) opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport resulting through negligence in the deaths of two or more persons.[25][26] The ICRF said that pilot error or a technical malfunction were possible causes of the crash.[22]
On 2 September, the flight data recorder (FDR), and the GPS navigator were recovered.[27][28] It was later announced that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) had also been found, but reportedly in a damaged state. Both recorders will be sent to the IAC for analysis.[29][30]
References
edit- ^ a b "Ми-8Т RA-25656 31.08.2024" (in Russian). Interstate Aviation Committee. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Baluev, Maxim (1 September 2024). "Сгорел полностью. На Камчатке нашли тела пассажиров пропавшего вертолёта" [Burned completely. Bodies of the passengers of the missing helicopter found in Kamchatka]. Aif Kamchatka (in Russian). Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Katastrofa Mi-8T na Kamczatce" [Mi-8T crash in Kamchatka]. Altair Agencja Lotnicza (in Polish). 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Nicholls, Catherine (31 August 2024). "Russian helicopter with 22 on board goes missing near Far East volcano". CNN. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Russia searches for missing helicopter with 22 on board". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ a b "17 Bodies Found After Helicopter Crashes in Far East Russia's Kamchatka". The Moscow Times. 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Гендиректор «Витязь-Аэро» рассказал о техническом состоянии пропавшего Ми-8". Izvestia (in Russian). 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rubnikovich, Oleg (1 September 2024). "Туристы разбились о склон" [Tourists Crashed Into Slope]. Kommersant (in Russian). Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "РФС объявил о гибели финдиректора в результате крушения Ми-8 на Камчатке" [RFU announces death of CFO in Mi-8 crash in Kamchatka]. RBK Group (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b Zoria, Yuri (1 September 2024). "Russian Mi-8 helicopter crash in Kamchatka claims 22 lives". Euromaidan Press. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b Prokhorchuk, Sofia; Shturma, Yana (1 September 2024). "Туманный подъем: что стало причиной крушения вертолета на Камчатке" [Foggy Rise: What Caused the Helicopter Crash in Kamchatka]. Izvestia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Helicopter With 22 Aboard Goes Missing in Far East Russia's Kamchatka". The Moscow Times. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Helicopter Crash Near Volcano in Russia's Far East Kills at Least 17". The New York Times. 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Kostereva Milena (1 September 2024). "При крушении Ми-8 на Камчатке погибли 3 члена экипажа и 19 туристов" [Mi-8 Crash in Kamchatka Kills 3 Crew Members and 19 Tourists]. Kommersant (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "На Камчатке 3 сентября объявили днем траура по жертвам крушения вертолета" [Kamchatka declares September 3 a day of mourning for helicopter crash victims]. Interfax (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "На Камчатке объявили день траура по погибшим при крушении Ми-8" [Kamchatka declares day of mourning for victims of Mi-8 crash]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Руководителя «Витязь-Аэро» уволили после крушения вертолета на Камчатке" [Vityaz-Aero CEO Fired After Helicopter Crash in Kamchatka]. RBC Group (in Russian). 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Russian Mi-8 helicopter with 22 people on board goes missing in Kamchatka, Kremlin media reports". The Kyiv Independent. 31 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "The wreckage of a helicopter missing in Russia's far east is located and 17 bodies found". Associated Press. 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "На месте крушения Ми-8 на Камчатке нашли 17 тел" [They found 17 bodies at the site of the Mi-8 crash in Kamchatka]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Russia, helicopter crash in Kamchatka: 22 bodies found". Agenzia Nova. 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Russian officials recover the bodies of all 22 people killed in a helicopter crash in the Far East". The Associated Press. 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Адским адом назвал место крушения Ми-8 министр ЧС Камчатки". Aif Kamchatka (in Russian). 6 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "МАК начал расследование по факту авиакатастрофы на Камчатке" [IAC launches investigation into plane crash in Kamchatka]. Камчатка-информ. 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "В СК назвали две основные версии крушения вертолета Ми-8 на Камчатке" [The Investigative Committee has named two main versions of the Mi-8 helicopter crash in Kamchatka] (in Russian). No. RBC Group. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Семьи погибших в крушении Ми-8 на Камчатке получат 3,3 миллиона рублей". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Бортовой самописец и GPS-навигатор изъяли с места крушения Ми-8 на Камчатке" [Flight recorder and GPS navigator recovered from Mi-8 crash site in Kamchatka]. Aif Kamchatka (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Найден 'черный ящик' разбившегося на Камчатке вертолета" [Black box of helicopter that crashed in Kamchatka found]. Interfax (in Russian). 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Источник: большинство погибших при крушении Ми-8 на Камчатке невозможно опознать" [Source: Most of those killed in the Mi-8 crash in Kamchatka cannot be identified]. Amur.life (in Russian). 4 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Авиакомпания "Витязь-Аэро" попала под проверку после крушения вертолета с туристами" [Vityaz-Aero airline under investigation after helicopter crash with tourists]. Interfax (in Russian). 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.