In a remote area of Russia’s Far East, a tourist helicopter journey turned fatal when the aircraft crashed near a volcano, resulting in the death of all 22 passengers on board.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 31, 2024, when a Mi-8 helicopter, operated by Vityaz-Aero, departed from a location near the Vachkazhets volcano in Kamchatka. This peninsula, celebrated for its wild beauty and diverse wildlife, soon became the site of a tragic accident. The helicopter, carrying 19 tourists and three crew members, vanished from radar shortly after it took off.
Emergency personnel initiated a search and rescue mission, but their efforts were hindered by poor visibility and unfavorable weather conditions. As reported by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, citing local emergency officials, “The crash site was discovered on Sunday morning (September 1) during a search operation.”
The Kamchatka peninsula, situated about 4,400 miles east of Moscow, was hit by a cyclone over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. It is yet to be determined if these conditions caused the crash.
As news of the accident spread, the loved ones of those on board anxiously awaited updates. The Kamchatka branch of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry worked relentlessly to reach the crash site, situated approximately 3,000 feet above sea level.
By Monday, September 2, Russian emergency officials declared that they had found the bodies of all 22 passengers at the crash site. This grim discovery confirmed the worst fears of those awaiting news and extinguished any remaining hopes for survivors.
A one-time compensation of around 3.3 million rubles will be given to the families of the victims. They will also be provided with free round-trip airfare to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative center of the region. Vityaz-Aero, the company that operated the crashed helicopter, has pledged to cover the expenses related to transporting the victims’ bodies to their final resting places.
The Mi-8 helicopter, a staple of Russian aviation since the 1960s, has served extensively in both military and civilian capacities. However, its safety record has been a matter of concern. The Aviation Safety Network has documented numerous accidents involving the Mi-8, with a total of 4,506 fatalities recorded in their database.
The accident has led to questions about the safety of tourist flights in the region. Vityaz-Aero, the operator of the ill-fated flight, is one of the largest carriers in Kamchatka and a significant player in the local tourism industry. The company’s website advertises tours to hot springs, active volcanoes, and nature parks.
This is not the first time Vityaz-Aero has faced questions about its safety procedures. In July 2021, another helicopter crash involving the company led to eight fatalities. After that incident, Russian authorities temporarily prohibited Vityaz-Aero from carrying passengers while they investigated potential violations of flight safety rules.
The Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the main tourist attractions in the region, depends heavily on helicopter transport for tourists. With 25 volcanoes and the renowned Valley of Geysers, the reserve is on many adventure seekers and nature lovers’ bucket lists.
As the cause of the crash is being investigated, focus has shifted to the difficulties of operating in the harsh terrain and unpredictable weather of Kamchatka. The Russian Investigative Committee, the nation’s leading law enforcement agency, has begun an investigation into possible pilot error or technical malfunction as potential causes of the accident.
Among the victims were several notable individuals, including the financial director of the Russian Football Union, Arseniy Zamyatin and his wife, and leaders of the Kamchatka Freeride Community.