The bodies of 17 dead were recovered on September 1 amid the wreckage of a civilian Mi-8 helicopter that disappeared the previous day in Russia’s Kamchatka region with 22 on board. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said all 22 -- 19 passengers and three crew -- were presumed dead. The state-run TASS news agency said the helicopter crashed into a hill. Officials said the helicopter belonged to the Vityaz-Aero airline, which has been engaged in passenger and tourist transportation for 15 years. Authorities said a criminal investigation into possible safety violations was under way. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
Bodies Of 17 Dead Found Amid Wreckage Of Russian Helicopter in Kamchatka
A photo from Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry shows the site of the deadly helicopter crash in Kamchatka on August 31.