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Fatal helicopter crash grounds Russian helicopters | Fatal helicopter crash grounds Russian helicopters |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The Russian defence ministry has grounded its fleet of Mi-28 attack helicopters after a fatal accident at an air show on Sunday. | The Russian defence ministry has grounded its fleet of Mi-28 attack helicopters after a fatal accident at an air show on Sunday. |
One pilot died and another jumped clear as the helicopter crashed during an aerobatic display by the elite Berkut squadron in the Ryazan region, about 170km (105 miles) south-east of Moscow. | One pilot died and another jumped clear as the helicopter crashed during an aerobatic display by the elite Berkut squadron in the Ryazan region, about 170km (105 miles) south-east of Moscow. |
The Russian military has blamed the crash on a hydraulics failure. | The Russian military has blamed the crash on a hydraulics failure. |
There have been six other Russian air force crashes in recent weeks. | There have been six other Russian air force crashes in recent weeks. |
The two-seat gunship was performing stunts and firing flares with three other helicopters. It then began to spin rapidly, before falling to the ground and bursting into flames. | The two-seat gunship was performing stunts and firing flares with three other helicopters. It then began to spin rapidly, before falling to the ground and bursting into flames. |
Its pilot Lt Col Igor Butenko was killed. His son told Russian media that the accident was not due to pilot error. | Its pilot Lt Col Igor Butenko was killed. His son told Russian media that the accident was not due to pilot error. |
"There are situations when it's impossible to survive no matter how well-trained the pilot is," he told Lifenews. | "There are situations when it's impossible to survive no matter how well-trained the pilot is," he told Lifenews. |
The Russian defence ministry says the condition of the other pilot is "satisfactory". | |
There were no injuries to spectators at the air show. | There were no injuries to spectators at the air show. |
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash, although the surviving pilot has said that a hydraulic failure was the cause. The country's fleet of Mi-28s will remain grounded until the investigation is completed. | An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash, although the surviving pilot has said that a hydraulic failure was the cause. The country's fleet of Mi-28s will remain grounded until the investigation is completed. |
The Mi-28 is an attack helicopter widely used in Russia, as well as countries such as Iraq and Kenya. | The Mi-28 is an attack helicopter widely used in Russia, as well as countries such as Iraq and Kenya. |
At least five people have been killed in recent military aviation crashes. | At least five people have been killed in recent military aviation crashes. |
In the past few years, the air force has received hundreds of new helicopter and planes as part of a programme to modernise and reequip Russia's military. | In the past few years, the air force has received hundreds of new helicopter and planes as part of a programme to modernise and reequip Russia's military. |
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