5 people injured in helicopter hard landing in southern Russia

MOSCOW, August 29 (Itar-Tass) —— Five people received injuries and were hospitalised after a helicopter belonging to the state-owned oil company Rosneft hard landed in the Arkhyz area in Karachai-Cherkessia, Russia’s constituent republic in the North Caucasus, on Monday, August 29.

“It was a hard landing. The helicopter was turned over to one side by a strong gust of wind five metres above ground when landing,” the Karachai-Cherkessian Interior Ministry said.

“According to preliminary information, there were 13 people aboard the helicopter. One pilot and four passengers were injured,” the press service of the North Caucasian regional centre of the Emergencies Ministry told Itar-Tass.

It said there was no fire aboard the helicopter.

Deputy plenipotentiary representative of the Russian president to the Southern Federal District Maxim Bystrov, North Caucasus Resorts Board Chairman Akhmed Bilanov, and other officials were travelling by the helicopter.

Five people received injuries and were hospitalised, including Bystrov, the office of the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian president to the Southern Federal District said.

Bilalov received light injuries and refused to be taken to hospital is now chairing a meeting in Arkhyz.

The condition of those injured is fair, the press service of the North Caucasian regional centre of the Emergencies Ministry said.

It believes that the number of those injured will increase.

The Karachai-Cherkessian Interior Ministry said earlier that “the deputy presidential representative and Bilalov were not injured. Two officials from North Caucasus Resorts and the helicopter pilot received light injuries.”

It said it was not an accident.

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