A Russian Mi-8 helicopter with 22 people on board has gone missing in the remote Kamchatka region in the Russian Far East, officials confirmed today.
The helicopter, operated by Vityaz-Aero, took off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano. It was scheduled to check in at 04:00 GMT but failed to do so, according to Russia’s official state air transport agency.
The helicopter had 19 passengers, including tourists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a crew of three.
The Kamchatka peninsula, more than 6,000 km east of Moscow, is known for its rugged terrain and is a popular tourist destination.
Emergency services reported that the helicopter went down near a lake in southern Kamchatka.
Initial reports indicate the Mi-8 fell into the lake, though details remain scarce.
This is the second incident involving a Mi-8 helicopter in Kamchatka this month.
Earlier, another Mi-8, carrying 16 people, hard-landed in the same region.
The Soviet-era Mi-8, first developed in the 1960s, is valued for its reliability in harsh climates, making it popular in Russia and neighbouring countries.
Rescue operations are underway, and officials are assessing the situation. Further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
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