Three Bodies and Black Box Found in Mi-8 Helicopter Crash in Kamchatka

Three bodies of passengers have been discovered in the Mi-8 helicopter that crashed into Kuril Lake, along with what is believed to be the "black box". This information was shared by Roman Vasilievsky, the vice governor of the Kamchatka region, as reported by Armenpress.

“Today, the main burden of searching and retrieving the helicopter and the bodies rests on the military personnel and the Emergency Situations Ministry (ESM) staff. As of now, five bodies have been raised, and three bodies have been found inside the helicopter,” Vasilievsky stated in a press release from the regional government.

According to him, three military units equipped with various special equipment, along with divers from the ESM, are currently working at the site. “Today, the military is examining the lake's bottom. A decision will be made in the coming days regarding how to bring the helicopter to the surface. As of today, the military is focused on locating wreckage and marking their positions on a map. All main components of the helicopter have been found,” the vice governor added.

He also noted that on August 15, an attempt was made to enter the helicopter. Using special equipment through an opening, the bodies of three victims and, presumably, the "black box" were discovered. “Special equipment has also been brought in to lift the helicopter’s flight recorder,” Vasilievsky emphasized.

It is recalled that on the morning of August 12, a Mi-8 helicopter operated by Vityaz-Aero, carrying tourists, crashed into Kuril Lake in the south of Kamchatka. There were three crew members and 13 passengers on board, including one child. Eight people survived, four of whom were injured. After the necessary equipment was brought in for underwater operations, the helicopter was located approximately 500 meters from the shore at a depth of 120 meters. On August 16, the body of the fifth victim was recovered from the bottom of the lake, reported Interfax.