MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. A Mil Mi-8 multipurpose helicopter crashed in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, a spokesman for the local emergencies services told TASS on Wednesday.

"According to preliminary information, up to eight people were killed in the incident," the spokesman said. "The information on casualties is being verified."

He added that the helicopter presumably belonged to the Border Guard Service. </s> Authorities said a helicopter ferrying Russian oil workers to a site on the far northern Yamal Peninsula crashed, killing at least 19 people and injuring three.

The Federal Air Transport Agency said in its statement that 16 of the 19 killed in the October 21 crash were passengers and the other three were crew members.

One injured passenger was taken to the Novy Urengoi settlement by helicopter, while two other survivors received medical assistance on the spot as their condition was assessed as critical. officials said.

RIA Novosti had found rescuers found both of the black boxes from the Mi-8 copter "in good condition."

The injured passenger communicated by cell phone with Russian Emergencies Ministry rescuers, who took hours to reach the site in the remote area.

Officials said weather conditions and visibility were poor in the area and that rescuers initially had to make their way to the crash site some 70 kilomters from Urengoi on snowmobiles. Helicopters later arrived at the site.

The Transport Ministry said the helicopter, belonging to the Skol air company, was flying from the village of Suzunskoye, in the territory of Krasnoyarsk.

Mi-8 helicopter are the workhorse vehicle for oil companies operating in remote, harsh regions of Russia. Crashes are often blamed on poor maintenance and aging machinery and parts.

The aircraft are also in wide use around the world, for civilian and military purposes.

Based on reporting by RIA Novosti, RT.com, and TASS </s> A Mil Mi-8 multipurpose helicopter believe to belong to the Border Guard Service has crashed in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.

A spokesman for local emergency services said: “According to preliminary information, up to eight people were killed in the incident.

"The information on casualties is being verified."

Russian media reports at least nine people are believed to have been on board the helicopter when it crashed. </s> Moscow: At least eight people were killed in a Mi-8 helicopter crash in south Russia’s Chechnya Republic on Wednesday, authorities said.

The aircraft reportedly belonged to the Border Guard Service, TASS news agency reported.

“According to preliminary information, up to eight people were killed in the incident,” a spokesman for the local emergencies services told the news agency.

“The information on casualties is being verified,” he said. </s> A Russian helicopter has crashed in Siberia, with reports saying at least 18 people were killed.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said the MI-8 helicopter went down around 10 a.m. local time on August 4 about 180 kilometers from the town of Igarka.

The ministry provided no further details.

Russian media quoted sources as saying that three crew members and 15 passengers were killed.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

Based on reporting by TASS and BBC </s> A helicopter crashed in northwest Siberia on Friday, killing 19 people on board, Russia’s federal air transport agency said on Saturday.

Three crew members and 16 passengers died when the Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter came down late on Friday in adverse weather conditions.

Two survivors were injured and a third unscathed, TASS news agency reported, citing a regional health official.

The helicopter was carrying employees of a contractor from Rosneft’s Suzun oilfield, part of the Vankor deposit, Russia’s northernmost onshore oil production project. </s> At least six people died after a Mi-8 helicopter crashed Wednesday in southwestern Russia's Chechnya.

According to Russian news agencies, rescuers found two survivors at the crash site.

Nine people were on board of the helicopter that belonged to the Russian border service.

Local emergency services said the helicopter crashed 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Russia's border with Georgia.

Officials said the helicopter crashed in thick fog after its rotor clipped a mountainside while preparing to land.

The twin-engine Mi-8 has been a mainstay of Soviet and Russian aviation since the late 1960s and also has been widely used worldwide. </s> A Mil Mi-8 multipurpose helicopter believe to belong to the Border Guard Service has crashed in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.

A spokesman for local emergency services said: “"According to preliminary information, up to eight people were killed in the incident.

"The information on casualties is being verified."

Russian media reports at least nine people are believed to have been on board the helicopter when it crashed.

"Indeed, a helicopter has crashed in the south of Chechnya," a law enforcement officer told Russia’s Interfax news agency, which reports five people were killed in the incident.

This is a breaking news story, refresh the page for updates. </s> MOSCOW — Russia's aviation agency says 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying oil workers crashed.

The Federal Air Transport Agency says in its statement Saturday that 16 of the 19 passengers on board and all three crew members died in Friday's crash in northern Russia.

The Mi-8 helicopter was traveling from Vankor to Staryi Urengoi in the Yamalo-Nenets region when it crashed about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Staryi Urengoi.

Rescuers found the helicopter lying on its side in the tundra. The agency said poor visibility and strong winds could have been factors.

The Mi-8 has been a mainstay of Soviet and Russian aviation since the late 1960s and is widely used worldwide.
A Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashes and leaves at least 19 dead and three others injured on the Yamal Peninsula in Russia's Extreme North.