Two reports from Gateway to Russia
Wreckage of missing helicopter found
Charred wreckage of the Mi-8 helicopter that disappeared on Wednesday have been found on the Kamchatka Peninsula, NTV television reported quoting Alexander Drozdov, deputy presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.
It is assumed that the helicopter crashed because of overloading.
There is no information about the killed or injured. Earlier, Sakhalin authorities promised a reward of RUR 1m (about $33,000) to anyone who finds the missing helicopter.
A corresponding decree was signed by Ivan Malakhov, acting Governor of the Sakhalin region, and Lyubov Shubina, Deputy Chairman of the Sakhalin region’s Duma.
The Mi-8 helicopter was flying from the Izluchino settlement to Severo-Kurilsk on the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It took off at 5:40 Moscow time (14:40 local time) on Wednesday but failed to make contact with ground control at the appointed time, one hour later, and did not arrive in Severo-Kurilsk. There were twenty people on board – three crew members and seventeen passengers, including Igor Farkhutdinov, Governor of the Sakhalin region.
The Transport Prosecutor’s Office of the Kamchatka region has opened a criminal case over the disappearance of the helicopter. The criminal case was opened under Article 263 of the Russian Criminal Code (violation of flight safety regulations).
and
Emergency Ministry: Helicopter wreckage not found
Reports that the wreckage of the missing Mi-8 helicopter was found are disinformation, sources in the Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Department of the Kamchatka region told RBC.
Earlier, Alexander Drozdov, deputy presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, said that the wreckage of the helicopter had been found on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
It is known that rescuers have landed not far from Kurilskoye Lake, where an oil patch and wreckage were found. However, a full scale search was suspended as night fell on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Mi-8 helicopter was flying from the Izluchino settlement to Severo-Kurilsk on the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It took off at 5:40 Moscow time (14:40 local time) on Wednesday but failed to make contact with ground control at the appointed time, one hour later, and did not arrive in Severo-Kurilsk. There were twenty people on board – three crew members and seventeen passengers, including Igor Farkhutdinov, Governor of the Sakhalin region.
Whichever is correct, things don't look to hopeful for the crew and passengers.