Rescuers in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula found 17 bodies after a helicopter carrying 22 people crashed. The helicopter, which went missing shortly after takeoff, was carrying 19 tourists and 3 crew members.

Kamchatka is known for its active volcanoes and pristine nature, attracting adventure tourists.

The helicopter wreckage was located in a hilly area at a height of 900 meters. The Mi-8 helicopter, operated by Vityaz-aero, a Kamchatka-based company, is widely used for transport in Russia.

Airplane accidents are common in the region. The sparse population and reliance on helicopters for access to remote areas contribute to this.

In earlier incidents, a Mi-8 helicopter crashed in 2021 due to poor visibility, resulting in fatalities. Another plane crash in the same year claimed the lives of all passengers and crew.

The search for survivors in the recent crash has been halted until daybreak. Rescuers are setting up camp near the crash site. Accidents like these highlight the risks linked to air travel in Russia’s far eastern region.