Russian Helicopter with 22 Onboard Goes Missing Near Kamchatka Volcano

A Russian Mi-8T helicopter carrying 22 people, including crew, went missing near the Vachkazhets volcano in Kamchatka. A rescue operation using another Mi-8 helicopter is underway, while authorities probe potential traffic safety violations. Weather conditions included drizzle and fog at the time of disappearance.

A Russian helicopter carrying 22 people, including three crew members, has gone missing in the far eastern peninsula of Kamchatka, state media reported Saturday.

According to TASS, the Mi-8T helicopter vanished near the Vachkazhets volcano, prompting another aircraft to be dispatched for a search operation.

The Vityaz-Aero airline's Mi-8T took off from the Vachkazhets volcano area heading to the village of Nikolaevka, 25 km away, but failed to establish contact at the scheduled time of around 07:15 (Moscow time), reported the Russian news outlet. An Mi-8 helicopter from the Russian Emergencies Ministry with rescuers on board is ready for the search.

Authorities have started an investigation into the potential violation of traffic safety rules and the operation of air transport. Drizzle and fog were present in the area when the helicopter went missing.

Earlier in January, four people survived the crash of a Russian charter plane in northern Afghanistan. Russian aviation authorities confirmed the ambulance plane originated from Utapao airport in Thailand, destined for Zhukovsky International Airport in Russia, and carried four crew members and two passengers.

Russian authorities said the aircraft, a French-made Dassault Falcon 10 jet, was co-owned by Athletic Group LLC and an unnamed private individual.

(With inputs from agencies.)