(Reuters) – Russia’s emergencies ministry announced on Monday that an Mi-8 helicopter crashed into a lake in the country’s northern Karelia region. The helicopter had three crew members on board, and the ministry reported that an underwater search was underway.
The ministry stated on the Telegram messaging app that the helicopter was on a training flight and that the crew had extensive flying experience. The wreckage of the helicopter was found 11 km (6.8 miles) from the shore of Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake in Karelia. The wreckage was located at a depth of 50 m (164 feet).
The ministry also mentioned that divers and a remote-controlled underwater vehicle were being used in the search efforts. However, no information was provided regarding the status of the crew members who were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.
The Karelia region is divided into two parts: the Finnish Karelia region and the Russian Republic of Karelia, located in the northwestern part of Russia. The crash occurred in the Russian Republic of Karelia, situated between the White and Baltic seas.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed)
