One dead, 15 hurt in Russian chopper crash

Moscow, Dec 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Russian helicopter crashed Sunday on the Arctic island of Yamal, killing the crew commander and injuring 15 passengers, an official said.

There were 15 passengers and three crew members aboard the Mi-8 helicopter. It was trying to land in polar night conditions and was destroyed after hitting the ground.

“The passengers received injuries of various degrees while the crew commander was killed,” a spokesman for Russian Aviation Committee (Rosaviatsia) said, adding that the fate of the other two crew members was unknown.

The helicopter, owned by Yamal Airline, was transporting geologists from Labytnanga town to the Bovanenkovo hydrocarbon field, which Russian energy giant Gazprom is working, the spokesman said.

Another helicopter of Yamal Airline has flown to the accident site to evacuate people injured in the crash, the spokesman said.

Another incident with a Mi-8 helicopter occurred Nov 25 when it crashed in Omsk region in southwestern Siberia, killing seven passengers and injuring three crew members.

–IANS/RIA Novosti