News

On 20 November 2014, a private helicopter Eurocopter AS350 with 5 people aboard due from Moscow to Kstovo crashed in Kstovo District, Nizhny Novgorod Region, near the village of Mikhalchikovo. All the passengers, including an 8-year-old girl were killed in the crash. The investigating bodies of the Volga Transport Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have launched a criminal investigation in a crime under part 3 of article 263 of the RF Penal Code (violation of safety standards for operation and traffic of air transport entailing death of two or more people by negligence).

At present investigators and criminalists of the Volga Transport Investigations Directorate are working at the scene. A number of investigative operations are underway to find out all the circumstances of the incident. Among the main theories of what happened the investigators are looking at poor weather conditions, pilot’s error and possible technical failure, which will be determined exactly by an inquiry.

The investigation is ongoing.