Helicopter with 22 onboard goes missing in Russia's Far East
A Mi-8 helicopter carrying 22 people has disappeared in the remote Kamchatka region of Russia's Far East. The aircraft, which took off near the Vachkazhets volcano, failed to reach its scheduled destination, according to a statement from Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. The agency confirmed that there were 19 passengers and three crew members on board at the time of disappearance.
Mi-8 helicopter: A widely used but accident-prone aircraft
The missing aircraft is a two-engine Mi-8 helicopter, a model first designed in the 1960s. The Mi-8 is the world's most widely produced helicopter, with over 17,000 units in service in more than 50 countries The Kamchatka region, known for its rugged terrain and active volcanoes, poses additional challenges for search and rescue operations.
