The Ural Investigation Department for Transport of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case in connection with the crash of a Robinson R-66 helicopter in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

A criminal case was initiated under Part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence), according to a message on the department’s website.

Information about the disappearance of the Robinson helicopter was received from the operational duty officer of Mys-Kamenny (a village on Yamal) at 22:15 Moscow time on Monday, April 18. According to information from the regional department of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, three Robinson helicopters flew from the Komi Republic to Bely Island near Yamal. When approaching Bely, weather conditions worsened. One helicopter went to reconnaissance of the area, two other helicopters flew to the village of Sabbeta.

Subsequently, contact with the helicopter that flew off for reconnaissance was lost. There were three people on board, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.

Later, the press service of the district department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the helicopter made a hard landing. All three people on board the ship died. The bodies of people and the wreckage of the helicopter in the area of Bely Island were discovered by rescuers who reached the crash site on Buran snowmobiles.

According to investigators, the helicopter crashed at about 00:15 Tuesday local time on Bely Island. The aircraft commander, co-pilot, and navigator received multiple injuries as a result of the accident, from which they died at the scene. The helicopter is destroyed.

The investigation is considering various versions of what happened, including a technical malfunction of the aircraft, pilot error and weather conditions. “Meanwhile, none of them is put forward as a priority,” the Ural Investigation Department said in a statement.

A criminal case has been opened in connection with a helicopter crash in Yamal