"Rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia arrived at the hard landing site of the Robinson R 44 helicopter. One person was evacuated and taken to the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk regional hospital by the company's helicopter, two people were killed," the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a statement.
According to TASS, citing sources in the emergency services, there were four people on board, and the dead were the pilot and passenger. The fate of another flyer is being clarified. According to Shot, the dead were found under the wreckage of the helicopter and died from their injuries before the arrival of rescuers. The source claims that there were five people on board the crashed helicopter — three more who were flying are being hospitalized.
A criminal case has been opened on the fact of the Robinson 44 helicopter crash in the Sakhalin region.
"According to this fact, the Sakhalin Investigative Department for Transport of the Eastern Interregional SU of the Russian IC has opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of traffic safety and operation of air transport)", - the message of the Eastern Interregional SU for Transport of the TFR says.
The department noted that the number of injured persons is being specified, and investigators and criminologists of the Investigative Committee have begun to clarify the circumstances of the incident. It is clarified that the incident occurred in the area of Chekhov Peak.