MOSCOW, July 21 (RIA Novosti) – Three people, including two British nationals, were killed in a helicopter crash in Russia’s northwestern Murmansk Region, officials said on Sunday.
Russia’s aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia previously reported earlier on Sunday that a Eurocopter-120 helicopter crashed during a takeoff, falling on its side and killing three people on the ground.
“As a result [of the accident], three people were killed, including two British citizens,” the Emergencies Ministry said in a statement.
The helicopter incident took place some 45 km (28 miles) from the settlement of Tumanny on the Kola Peninsula, the ministry said. The investigators suspect that the helicopter’s pilot, who was injured in the crash, is to blame for the incident.
“Most likely, the tragedy happened due to a pilot error,” spokesman for the local investigative body told RIA Novosti.
Local police said the foreigners killed in the accident were tourists, while the Russian victim was their guide. The investigators haven’t disclosed their names.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has sent a helicopter with rescuers to the site of the accident.
(Recast throughout and updated with new details and new headline)
