Russian helicopter crash kills 2 Britons
Source: AFP |
July 22, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
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THREE people, including two British tourists, were killed in Russia's Far North yesterday when their helicopter crash-landed and they were hit by its rotors, officials said.
The two Britons, who had traveled to the remote Murmansk region for an organized river fishing expedition, and their Russian interpreter were killed by the whirling rotors of the helicopter as the aircraft crash-landed on its side.
"Two tourists - citizens of Britain - and their guide-translator were killed in the accident," the Investigative Committee said in a statement. It said the two Britons were born in 1944 and their guide, who was from Murmansk, was born in 1960.
"After landing, the helicopter turned on its side and its rotors hit the passengers," the committee said, adding that the pilot survived but was injured.
Previous reports had suggested that the three victims were already on the ground but it now appears they may have been in the helicopter and were killed as they tried to get out.
The Investigative Committee said it had opened a review of the accident, the first step toward opening a criminal probe. The RIA Novosti news agency quoted investigative sources as saying the human factor was likely to blame.
In London, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of the deaths of two British nationals in Russia. We are in touch with the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance."
A distress signal had already been received from the Eurocopter-120 before it made the hard landing in the north of the region's Kola peninsula.
The Life News website described the Britons as "VIP tourists" who were taking part in a fishing trip especially for foreigners.
Fishing expeditions to the salmon-rich rivers of the Far North are one of the tourism attractions of Russia.
The two Britons, who had traveled to the remote Murmansk region for an organized river fishing expedition, and their Russian interpreter were killed by the whirling rotors of the helicopter as the aircraft crash-landed on its side.
"Two tourists - citizens of Britain - and their guide-translator were killed in the accident," the Investigative Committee said in a statement. It said the two Britons were born in 1944 and their guide, who was from Murmansk, was born in 1960.
"After landing, the helicopter turned on its side and its rotors hit the passengers," the committee said, adding that the pilot survived but was injured.
Previous reports had suggested that the three victims were already on the ground but it now appears they may have been in the helicopter and were killed as they tried to get out.
The Investigative Committee said it had opened a review of the accident, the first step toward opening a criminal probe. The RIA Novosti news agency quoted investigative sources as saying the human factor was likely to blame.
In London, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of the deaths of two British nationals in Russia. We are in touch with the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance."
A distress signal had already been received from the Eurocopter-120 before it made the hard landing in the north of the region's Kola peninsula.
The Life News website described the Britons as "VIP tourists" who were taking part in a fishing trip especially for foreigners.
Fishing expeditions to the salmon-rich rivers of the Far North are one of the tourism attractions of Russia.
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