A Russian military Mi-8 helicopter carrying 22 passengers disappeared in the isolated Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday. Shortly after departure, the helicopter, which was flying close to the Vachkazhets volcano, lost contact and vanished from radar. The crew did not report any problems prior to their communication breakdown.
Governor of Kamchatka Vladimir Solodov verified that when contact was lost at approximately 4:15 p.m. local time, there were 19 passengers and 3 crew members on the helicopter. The thick fog in the area is making search and rescue efforts more difficult.
There are difficult conditions for the ongoing search operations in Kamchatka, an area well-known for its magnificent natural vistas and a well-liked tourist attraction. Nine hours ahead of Moscow time is the local time.
