A Russian attack helicopter crashed southwest of Moscow on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all crew members on board, according to the Russian defense ministry.
The helicopter, identified as an Mi-24, went down during a training flight in the Kaluga region, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Moscow. The defense ministry stated that the crash occurred in an uninhabited area, avoiding any civilian casualties.
“Preliminary information indicates that the crash was due to a technical malfunction,” the ministry said. “An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.”
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the crash site, and recovery operations are ongoing. The defense ministry has not disclosed the number of crew members on board but confirmed that all were killed in the incident.
Russian news agency TASS reported that the helicopter belonged to a military unit based in the western part of the country. Eyewitnesses in the area reported seeing the aircraft descending rapidly before crashing and catching fire.
