Six die in city helicopter crash 'as pilot’s last act saved residential buildings'

Videos showed black smoke from the crash in which six died. 

One eyewitness said: 'The helicopter was flying and caught a (communications) tower in fog. 

‘It crashed, and now burns and explodes.'  

Another early report - also unconfirmed - claimed the pilots managed to direct the stricken Mi-8 away from a residential area close by.

The wreckage was strewn over a large area.

The dead were named as: pilots Viktor Posokhov, 50 and Igor Ulyanov, 32, and passengers Alexey Shtanko, 42, instructor,  Dmitry Makarov, 44, aircraft commander,  Anton Yermakov, 38, aircraft commander, and Yury Boroda, 54, air mechanic.

The purpose of the training flight was unclear. 

An Investigative Committee source said: 'The helicopter crashed in the city at Antennaya street. 

‘According to preliminary information, all six people aboard the aircraft are dead.’

Investigators are seeking to establish the cause. 

'The investigation looks into three major versions of the accident: weather conditions, technical malfunction or pilot error,' said a source.