Helicopter with 22 onboard goes missing in Russia's Far East, rescue operation launched

A helicopter with 22 people on board went missing in Russia's Far East on Saturday (Aug 31). In a statement, the Federal Air Transport Agency said that the Mi-8 helicopter took off close to theVachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka region, but did not arrive at its destination as scheduled.

It said it believed that 19 passengers and three crew members were on board.

Further details were awaited.

According to the news agency TASS, the helicopter belongedto the Vityaz-Aero airline which organises tourist trips on the peninsula. The Investigative Committee for Transport has launched a probe.

A look at the Mi-8 helicopter

The Mi-8 is a two-engine helicopter designed in the 1960s. It is widely used in Russia, where crashes have been frequent, as well as in neighbouring countries.

Mi-8 is most commonly used as a transport helicopter, but can also be used as an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

It is the world's most-produced helicopter.

Russia's aviation industry hit hard by Western sanctions

Since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian aviation industry has been hit hard by sanctions from the West. A report by The Kyiv Independent said that these sanctions includea ban on the ability of Russian airlines or Russian-owned aircraftto use EU airspace, as well as prohibiting the export of aviation-related technology, some of which is used in Russian helicopters.

The safety of Russian airlines has deteriorated as companies scramble to find spare parts.

(With inputs from agencies)