Piece of helicopter that crashed in Altai found in Lake Teletskoye - Emergency Situations Ministry
GORNO-ALTAISK. Feb 13 (Interfax) - A piece of the Robinson helicopter which crashed in the Republic of Altai on February 12 has been found in Lake Teletskoye, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said in a preliminary report posted on its website.
"A fragment supposedly belonging to the crashed helicopter was found this morning by a ground search party of rescuers," the report said.
The ministry's department in the republic has yet to confirm the information to Interfax. "We have no information that the search has borne any fruit so far. Helicopter fragments have not been found," it said.
Two Mil Mi-8 helicopters have transported a diving team equipped with a robotic submersible to the search area, the ministry said. Three helicopters and drones are also searching for debris. Over 230 people and 40 machines are cleaning up the crash aftermath.
The Robinson helicopter with five people aboard crashed in the Lake Teletskoye area on February 12. Preliminary reports indicate that former Altai official and businessman Anatoly Bannykh was one of the passengers.