MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A seaplane collided with a Robinson 44 helicopter over a reservoir in the vicinity of Alyokhnovo village, Tver Region, earlier in the day. The spokesperson for the Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya said a 10-year-old girl died in the accident.
“The Russian Investigative Committee’s Moscow Interregional Investigation Department has launched a criminal case into the violation of air transport safety rules resulting in the death of two or more persons,” the committee said in a statement.
Early estimates range from eight to nine victims in the accident over Istrinskoye reservoir. Ambulance workers in the town of Istra confirmed to RIA Novosti the death of a young girl on site.
A source in the Moscow Region emergency services told the agency earlier that divers finished search operations at nightfall, with plans to continue in the morning. They added that the missing victims’ relatives continued searches independently.
An emergency services spokesperson said five people were on board the seaplane and four others on board the light helicopter.
