In the Krasnodar Territory, the Mi-28N attack helicopter crashed, belonging to the 55th separate Sevastopol Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree helicopter regiment. Onboard, two crew members died.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed what happened. According to the agency, the helicopter crashed on Wednesday, December 11, when performing a training flight in difficult conditions.

“On December 11, 2019, at around 11:00 p.m. (Moscow time), during a planned training flight in the dark during difficult weather conditions in the Krasnodar Territory near the Korenovsk airfield, the Mi-28 (N) helicopter crashed,” the military said department.

There was no ammunition on board at the time of the crash. No one was injured on the ground as a result of the incident, there is no damage to the buildings. There was no fire at the helicopter crash site.

“The helicopter is completely destroyed, the crew’s bodies are identified. These were experienced pilots, ”TASS quoted the representative of the Ministry of Defense.

Dead officers

The Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratiev expressed his condolences to the helicopter regiment and the families of the dead pilots.

“I express my deepest condolences to the entire helicopter regiment, the families and relatives of the victims. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Sklyankin and Major Ruslan Kushnirenko were professionals in their field, faithful to the oath and military duty. The Krasnodar Territory has become their second home, their families live here, ”the text of the telegram sent by the press service to the 55th Helicopter Regiment says.

  • Crew commander Alexander Sklyankin and deputy commander of the Korenovsky flight training regiment and Mi-28 squadron Ruslan Kushnirenko
  • vk.com
  • © typical_kuban

One of the dead was a military officer, fought in hot spots, a TASS source in military circles said.

“Of course, they knew by service (of the dead. - RT) ... One of them was the deputy flight commander of this regiment, the second was the squadron commander. The castle’s commander was a combat officer, he was in Syria and other hot spots, ”he explained.

The agency’s interlocutor also added that the victims served in a helicopter military unit in Korenovsk.

“Both are local. Most likely they will bury here (Korenovsk. - RT), ”he concluded.

Investigation

At the crash site, a commission of the High Command of the Aerospace Forces works to clarify all the circumstances of the incident.

The press service of the Main Military Investigation Department of the IC of the Russian Federation said that a criminal case had been opened on the fact of the crash.

“On December 12, the military investigative department of the RF IC for the Krasnodar garrison from military unit 35666 received a message about the crash of the Mi-28 helicopter. On this fact a criminal case was opened on the same day on the grounds of a crime under Art. 351 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of flight rules or preparation for them), ”the department said.

According to RIA Novosti, the documentation regulating the flight, as well as the testimony of objective control devices, were seized.

Emergency services of the Krasnodar Territory said that black boxes were found. They are in good condition.

“We found flight recorders, they are whole. The commission considers all versions of what happened, including a technical malfunction and a human factor. A complete picture of the accident can only be established after reading the information from the flight recorders, ”TASS quoted the source as saying in the military-industrial complex of the region.

Until the causes of the crash are clarified, flights of the Mi-28 helicopters in the Southern Military District are suspended.

Possible causes of the accident

RIA Novosti, citing a source in law enforcement agencies, reports on two main versions of what could have happened. The causes of the accident, in his opinion, could be an error in piloting and a technical malfunction of the helicopter.

TASS provides data from other sources in emergency services. According to one of them, the accident could have occurred due to heavy fog, according to another - the helicopter could catch screws on the ground.

“The helicopter suffered badly, it lies on the ground with screws, the bow is damaged, the wings flew off. Most likely, he hooked on the ground with screws when he turned around, judging by the damage, it looks like this, ”the source said.

Recall, Mi-28 (codified by NATO Havoc) is a Soviet and Russian attack helicopter designed to search for and destroy armored vehicles, as well as low-speed air targets and manpower of the enemy.