Russia searches for missing helicopter carrying 22 people

A search and rescue operation has been launched in Russia’s Far East after a helicopter carrying 22 people, mostly tourists, went missing.

The Mi-8T helicopter took off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday, the emergencies ministry said.

The peninsula area is a popular tourist destination, known for its rich landscape and active volcanoes.

Officials said the helicopter disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff, adding that heavy fog was hampering rescue efforts.

The helicopter, owned by Vityaz-Aero, was making the trip to the volcano. Designed during the Soviet era, the Mi-8 helicopter is still popular and widely used in Russia.

The Kamchatka governor said the plane disappeared from radar and the crew had been uncontactable since around 16:15 (04:15 GMT). An emergencies ministry source told state news agency Tass that the crew had not reported any difficulties before going missing.

Vladimir Solodov said there were 19 passengers and three crew members on board.

The air search continued into the night but visibility was poor.

Others joined the search by walking along the Bystraya River valley, where the helicopter was supposed to be moving.

The mountainous Kamchatka Peninsula – more than 6,000 km (3,730 miles) east of Moscow – is popular with tourists.

But there have been a number of air crashes over the years – two in just two months in 2021 alone.