Pilot dies in helicopter crash near Naryan-Mar
ST. PETERSBURG. Nov 28 (Interfax) - The Northwestern investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is considering the launch of a criminal case of violation of traffic safety rules in relation to a helicopter crash near Naryan-Mar.
"An aerial vehicle having six persons aboard crashed at approximately 4:19 p.m. One of them - the pilot - died. The status of the other five persons is being clarified. An investigative team consisting of an investigator for top priority cases and crime experts has gone to the scene. It is led by first deputy head of the department," Interfax was told at the Northwestern investigative department.
The question is being considered of launching a criminal case of "violation of safety rules in traffic and the operation of railway, air, sea and internal waterway transport and metro."
A source in the region's transport supervisory services told Interfax that the crash of the Mil Mi-26T helicopter near Naryan-Mar was provoked by bad weather conditions. "The accident occurred in bad weather conditions with almost zero visibility. The cause lies either in the pilot's mistake during an emergency landing or in equipment failure," the source said.
Previously the emergency headquarters at the scene told Interfax that the Mi-26T helicopter crashed making an emergency landing in bad weather conditions near Naryan-Mar. There were six persons aboard one of whom died and the other are believed to have been slightly injured, a source said citing early reports.