Mi-28 helicopter crashes during demonstration flight near Ryazan; one pilot dies, another survives - Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - A Mil Mi-28 helicopter crashed as Berkuty piloting group conducted a demonstration flight at Dubrovichi testing range in Ryazan region; one of the pilots died, Interfax was told at the Defense Ministry press service and information department.
"While performing an aerobatic program the helicopter started spinning flatly and made a crash landing. Reports from the scene say one of the pilots died, the second survived in satisfactory condition," the ministry said.
A commission of the top command of the Russian Air Force is working at the scene.
Meanwhile, NTV channel quotes eyewitnesses - visitors of Aviadarts international air show - as saying that when a group of three helicopters made its flight one of them started spinning which caused the crash. One of the pilots left the cockpit unaided, the other was injured. An ambulance drove to it. There was an explosion 30 seconds after the helicopter crashed. The fire was put out soon.
According to NTV, demonstration flights were stopped for today.