Move FM Global News

MOSCOW, Russia – An MI-8 helicopter crashed in northwestern Siberia on Saturday, killing all 18 people onboard.

According to the Russian emergencies ministry, the helicopter crashed at 10.20 local time (03.20 GMT), about 180 km from the town of Igarka, in Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Officials confirmed that all those on board, including three crew members and 15 passengers were killed in the crash. 

According to the ministry, the helicopter had been taking workers to an oil station when it went down.

Further, initial assessments released by the ministry have suggested that the aircraft’s blades struck cargo being carried by another helicopter just after take-off.

Officials said that the helicopter fell to the ground and burst into flames.

The second helicopter was reportedly able to land safely.

The ministry said that a criminal investigation had been launched into the crash and Svetlana Petrenko, a government official told local reporters that authorities are now investigating allegations of negligence and whether safety guidelines had been violated.

Aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said in a statement, “After take-off, according to early reports, the Mi-8 carrying passengers knocked into the external cargo of the other helicopter, for reasons unknown. As a result, it fell, broke apart and caught fire.”

According to reports, both aircraft belong to Russian national airline Utair.

Russian news agency TASS quoted law enforcement agencies as saying that as part of their operations, the helicopter’s black box flight recorders have been recovered and appear undamaged.

The black boxes will now be sent to Moscow as part of the investigation.