Defence Ministry special commission heads for crash site of mi-8 helicopter

The RF Ministry of Defence special commission, headed by chief of staff of Siberian Military District Vladimir Bakin, has left for the crash site of the Mi-8 helicopter, head of the ministry's press service, Nikolai Deryabin, reported on Tuesday. The fragments of the Mi-8 helicopter, belonging to the Ministry of Defence, were discovered from the air near the village of Kosh-Agas (the Altai Territory) at 12:56, Moscow time. Nikolai Deryabin supposed that the matter concerned the Defence Ministry's helicopter, which had been out of touch since Tuesday morning. At the same time he reserved comments on reasons for the accident and on the crew's destiny until the arrival of alpine rescuers at the place. According to him, the rescuers had not reached the destination by 15:10, Moscow time, yet. The lost Mi-8 carried 3 crew members and some passengers, whose number is being checked.