Helicopter crash-lands in Russia, killing four on board

A Russian military helicopter crash-landed on an airfield Tuesday in the far eastern region of Chukotka, killing four people, the military said.

The crash involving a Mi-8 helicopter may have been caused by a technical malfunction, the Defence Ministry said. Three crew members and a technician on board died in the crash, according to the governor of Chukotka, Roman Kopin.

It is the second fatal incident with a military Mi-8 helicopter in the space of a week. On 19 May, another Mi-8 crash-landed near the town of Klin, 90km (56 miles) from Moscow, killing all three crew members.

Officials said at the time that the crash was probably caused by a technical malfunction.

The Mi-8 is a multipurpose, medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed in the Soviet Union and now produced by Russia. It is one of the most common helicopters in the Russian armed forces.

AP