No chances to find any Russians alive after Mi-8 crash in Congo, experts said

PRETORIA. March 11. KAZINFORM Four Russian pilots died in the crash of a helicopter Mi-8 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spokesman of the UN Mission in Congo Col. Felix Prosper Basse said on the local radio station Okapi on Monday.

The UTair helicopter Mi-8AMT, which the UN chartered, was on the Shabunda-Bukavu flight in hard climatic conditions in the highlands. The helicopter got on the line for the last time, 16 kilometres away from the airport Bukavu. Later the helicopter was spotted in the hard-to-reach area in the jungle highlands at an altitude of about 2.7 kilometres.

The helicopter crew included Vladimir Safonov, Alexander Sarafanov, Alexander Bessmertny and Yevgeny Nikitin.

Published by Itar-Tass