Case on MI-8 helicopter wreck in Altai controlled by main military prosecutor's office of Russia

The criminal case, instituted on the fact of a Mi-8 helicopter wreck in Altai (the south of western Siberia) is being controlled by the Main Military Prosecutor's Office, RIA Novosti was told on Wednesday. The criminal case is being investigated by the military prosecutor's office of the Siberian military district. The Mi-8 MT helicopter wrecked on May 7th, 20 km south-west of the Kurai populated locality, the Republic of Altai. Three members of the crew and eight passengers died. On Wednesday, at the place of the helicopter's fall in a difficult-of-access region, near the Aktru river, search and rescue work has been resumed. It is being done by 22 experienced rescuers headed by emergencies minister of the republic. On Tuesday the work of rescuers, which is being conducted in conditions of high mountains and deep snow cover, was stopped late in the evening because of darkness that had set in. The Mi-8 helicopter was reported to belong to an aviation regiment and left its base in midday. The assignment of the crew was to thrash out the flight methods in conditions of high mountains. But some time later the radio communication with the helicopter was interrupted. Then, the rescuers discovered, from the air, the wreckages of the helicopter on the steep mountainous slope. By that moment it had become known that, apart from the crew members eight snowboarders were on board the helicopter.