Helicopter crashes in Russia's Far East: What you need to know

Picture courtesy: BBC

A helicopter with 16 people on board crashed in Russia's Far East region of Kamchatka early on Thursday. News agencies reported nine had been found alive and seven were missing.

The helicopter was carrying tourists from Moscow and St Petersburg, operated by Vityaz-Aero company with 13 passengers and three crew, hard-landed near a lake on the south of Kamchatka peninsula, the local emergency service said. RIA said the helicopter fell into the lake.

Nine people were found alive at the scene and others were missing.

Despite improvements in Russian aviation safety standards, accidents involving ageing planes and helicopters are not uncommon.

In July all 28 people on board of Antonov An-26 twin-engined turboprop died in a crash in Kamchatka.