A helicopter with 22 people on board, including tourists, has gone missing in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. The Mi-8 helicopter lost communication at 04:15 GMT, with rescue teams searching through the night for the aircraft. The helicopter had picked up passengers near the Vachkajec ancient volcano, known for its scenic and wild landscapes, and was en route to the village of Nikolayevka. Accidents involving planes and helicopters are common in the region due to harsh weather and poor visibility. In August 2021, a similar helicopter crashed, killing eight, and in July of the same year, a plane crash killed all 28 passengers and crew members. Russian authorities are diligently searching for the missing helicopter, hoping for the safe return of all passengers and crew members. The Mi-8 helicopter, widely used in Russia, is known for frequent crashes, not just in Russia but also in neighbouring countries and beyond. The local weather service reported poor visibility at the time of takeoff, raising concerns about weather-related issues. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of air travel in the remote and sparsely populated regions of Russia’s far east.
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