Mi-8 helicopter with 22 on board goes missing in Russia's Kamchatka

A Mi-8 helicopter operated by Vityaz-Aero has gone missing in Kamchatka with 22 people aboard, including three crew members and 19 passengers.

The helicopter was en route from a site near Vachkazhets Volcano to the village of Nikolaevka when it lost contact with air traffic control, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The helicopter was scheduled to check in around 07:15 (GMT +3), but it failed to make contact at the appointed time. Rosaviatsia, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, reported the disappearance and is actively coordinating the search efforts.

The helicopter was flying from the Vachkazhets Volcano site, located in the southern Kamchatka region, to Nikolaevka, which is 17 kilometres southwest of Yelizovo Airport. The Vachkazhets Volcano is the highest point of the South Bystrinsky Ridge and stands 1,556 meters above sea level. It is situated approximately 80 kilometres west of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and is classified as an extinct volcano and a regional natural monument.

The search operation is ongoing, with emergency services deployed to locate the missing aircraft. The situation remains urgent as rescuers work to determine the helicopter's location and ensure the safety of those on board.