Moscow, Nov 11: A terrible helicopter accident has occurred in Russia, where the helicopter broke into two pieces while flying in the air.
The incident took place near the village of Achi-Su in the Russian republic of Dagestan, and at least five people were killed when a Russian defense aviation Ka-226 helicopter crashed, officials said on Monday.
The incident occurred at the Kizlyar Electro mechanical Plant (KEMZ), a major supplier of systems used in Russian military aircraft, officials said.
The chopper crashed into a rock on the beach, causing it to split into two According to sources, the helicopter was flying from Kizlyar to Izberbash when it caught fire mid-flight and attempted an emergency landing. The pilot tried to land the plane on a nearby beach along the Caspian Sea. However, the helicopter's tail hit the ground and broke off.
The pilot then tried to land the chopper on the spot, but was unable to do so and it crashed into the courtyard of a private house in the Karabudakhkent district, eyewitnesses told local media.
The chopper's deputy general director, chief engineer, chief designer and flight mechanic were among those killed in the crash. A total of 5 people died. Footage shared on social media showed the helicopter's tail section breaking off before it hit the ground.
"Three passengers and the pilot were pulled from the wreckage. However, they died from their serious injuries," Dagestan's Health Minister Yaroslav Glazov confirmed. Two other people were taken to hospital, one of them in critical condition.
After the crash, the fire spread to an area of about 80 square metres. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. Russian media reported the incident.