News

522^nd Military Investigations Department of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case over crash of Mi-35 helicopter on the signs of a crime under article 351 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code (violation of the rules for flights and training for them).

It was preliminarily established that, on 8 September 2012 two helicopters Mi-35 of the military unit 62632-D with hull No 51 and 54 were flying from the airfield Mazdok in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania to the helipad of Botlikh in the Republic of Dagestan. The contact with the supporting helicopter was lost at 1 p.m. At that time the captain of the leading helicopter, having lost the contact with the supporting helicopter, took measures for its search, but it was not found. On 8 September at about 3 p.m. the local people reported that the helicopter had fallen in forest and mountainous area in 20 km to the north of the village of Botlikh in the Republic of Dagestan.

The helicopter was found destructed and the bodies of 3 crew members and a navigator of military unit 12628 were also found nearby.

Investigation group has immediately set off for the scene. Criminologists of South Military District Military Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have arrived to render practical and methodological aid.

Urgent investigation operations are currently under way. Investigation is to be continued.