MOSCOW – Eighteen people were killed in a helicopter crash in theKrasnoyarsk region in Siberia on Saturday, the aviation watchdog andemergency services said.
The passengers, workers heading to their shift at an oil-pumping station,and three crew members died when the Russian-made Mi-8 aircraft knockedinto the cargo of an adjacent helicopter as both were completing take-off,watchdog Rosaviatsia said.
The incident occurred in the Vankor Field area in eastern Siberia, thewatchdog said, at around 0200 GMT. Vankor is the region’s largest oilfield, operated by Russian oil company Rosneft.
“A Mi-8 helicopter which was carrying external suspended cargo and nopassengers completed take-off first. Second to take off was a Mi-8helicopter carrying passengers,” the watchdog said.
“After take-off, according to early reports, the Mi-8 carrying passengersknocked into the external cargo of the other helicopter, for reasonsunknown. As a result it fell, broke apart and caught fire,” the watchdogsaid, adding weather conditions were normal.
A commission has been set up to investigate the crash.
The helicopters’ black boxes have been recovered, appear undamaged and willbe sent to Moscow as part of the investigation, TASS news agency said,citing law enforcement agencies.
The other helicopter landed safely after the incident. The two aircraftwere owned by UTair-Helicopter Services, a unit of Russian airline UTair.
In Russia, the helicopter operator predominantly works with oil and gascompanies, transporting people and cargo for clients including Gazprom,Shell and Rosneft. It also works around the world on United Nationscontracts, according to the company’s website.