2024 Kamchatka Mil Mi-8 crash

2024 Kamchatka Mil Mi-8T crash

RA-25656, the aircraft involved in the accident
Accident
Date	31 August 2024 (2024-08-31)
Summary	Crashed in poor weather conditions, under investigation
Site	near the Vachkazhets Volcano, Russia
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Mil Mi-8T
Aircraft name	Vladimir Samarsky
Operator	Vityaz-Aero
Registration	RA-25656
Flight origin	Near Vachkazhets volcano, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
Destination	Nikolayevka, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
Occupants	22
Passengers	19
Crew	3
Fatalities	22
Survivors	0

On 31 August 2024, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Kamchatka Krai, Russia, killing all 22 people on board. The aircraft, which was operated by Vityaz-Aero on a sightseeing tour over the Vachkazhets volcano, crashed in poor weather shortly after take-off.

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft was a 32-year-old Mil Mi-8T, registered as RA-25656 with serial number 99254295; it was manufactured in 1992. The aircraft was operated by Vityaz-Aero, a firm that organises flights for tourists in the area. Vityaz-Aero had acquired the aircraft 11 years prior, naming it after local helicopter pilot Vladimir Samarsky. The aircraft had received an air operator's certificate, lasting for six years, in 2022. According to the CEO of Vityaz-Aero, Viktor Sirotin, the aircraft was in good working order.

Passengers and crew

There were 19 passengers on board the flight returning from a trip to the extinct Vachkazhets volcano that had been organized by the Kamchatka Freeride Community and Moscow-based tour operator company Bolshaya Strana. Among those on board was Arseny Zamyatin, the chief financial officer of the Russian Football Union; his wife, Polina Zamyatina; Kirill Seregin, one of the leaders of the Kamchatka Freeride Community, a locally well-known extreme sports enthusiast as well as an experienced guide, and Mikhail Repnikov and Yulia Repnikova, the founders of Bolshaya Strana.

In command was 38-year-old Captain Denis Bleshchik, who had been flying helicopters for 12 years. A former colleague of Bleshchik said that he had all the necessary permits to fly the aircraft.

Accident

The helicopter disappeared from radar at around 16:15 PETT (UTC+12:00) shortly after takeoff. It was due to establish communication at around the same time but failed to do so. No difficulties were reported by the crew before the disappearance. Eyewitnesses stated that despite the poor weather, the aircraft still took off. Weather officials said that there was poor visibility in the area where it took off. The Kamchatka Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring reported that fog and drizzle were present in the area of the crash. The wreckage was found in a hilly area at an elevation of 900 metres (3,000 ft) near the point of the last communication, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from its destination at Nikolayevka, Yelizovsky District.

Aftermath

The Governor of Kamchatka Krai, Vladimir Solodov declared 3 September to be a day of mourning in honour of the victims, and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. On 13 September, the founders of Vityaz-Aero dismissed CEO Viktor Sirotin as a result of the accident with Dmitry Zadirey, Deputy CEO for Flight Operations, also having been decided to be dismissed.

Recovery operations

A search operation by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations was launched. The focus of operations was the Bystraya River valley, which was on the helicopter's flight path. Operations were hindered by fog. On 1 September, the ministry reported that the crash site had been found with all 22 occupants presumed dead. It also reported that 17 bodies had been recovered from the site with the search still under way. The search was suspended overnight due to the onset of darkness. The ministry later confirmed that all 22 occupants had been killed. On 2 September, the ministry reported that the bodies of all 22 on board had been found and transferred to the forensic examination authorities in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with the search and rescue operation being announced as completed.

Investigation

On 1 September, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) launched an investigation into the accident, along with Rosaviatsia. The local branch of the Investigative Committee of Russia (ICRF) opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport resulting through negligence in the deaths of two or more persons. The ICRF said that pilot error or a technical malfunction were possible causes of the crash.

On 2 September, the flight data recorder (FDR), and the GPS navigator were recovered. It was later announced that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) had also been found, but reportedly in a damaged state. Both recorders will be sent to the IAC for analysis.