The search and rescue operation for the Mi-8 helicopter crash on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has concluded, with all 22 bodies recovered from the crash site. The victims included 19 tourists and 3 crew members. Among the deceased were Arseny Zamyatin, the financial director of the Russian Football Union, and his wife Polina.The helicopter, operated by ‘Vityaz-Aero’, disappeared on August 31, 2024, shortly after takeoff from the Vachkazhets volcano area, en route to the village of Nikolaevka. The wreckage was discovered on September 1 at an altitude of 900 meters near the last known location of the aircraft.Sergey Lebedev, Minister of Emergency Situations of Kamchatka, announced the completion of the search and rescue operation, expressing gratitude to all participants and condolences to the families of the victims. The bodies have been transported to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for identification.Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash may have been caused by pilot error due to heavy fog. However, technical failure has not been ruled out. The Russian Interstate Aviation Committee is leading the investigation.In response to this tragedy, Governor Vladimir Solodov has declared September 3, 2024, as a day of mourning in the Kamchatka region. He described the incident as ‘a terrible tragedy for all of us’. A crisis management team has been set up in the Kamchatka government to provide psychological support and compensation to the families of the victims.
Key points
- All 22 bodies from the Mi-8 helicopter crash on Kamchatka have been recovered and identified.
- The crash occurred on August 31, 2024, near the Vachkazhets volcano, likely due to pilot error in foggy conditions.
- September 3, 2024, has been declared a day of mourning in the Kamchatka region.
Contradictions👾While most sources report 22 victims (19 tourists and 3 crew members), one source initially mentioned only 18 people found dead at the scene.
