Wrecked Mi-6 crew and passengers may be alive

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry cannot confirm the fact of death of the crew and passengers of a Mi-6 helicopter, found crashed on the Taimyr peninsula. A spokesman of the ministry said that, until rescuers and representatives of the prosecutor's office have thoroughly inspected the site, "it is premature to talk of the death of all the people found on its board".

Commenting on media reports of the death of all Mi-6 crewmen and passengers, he stressed that the Emergency Situations Ministry has not officially reported human deaths.

On Thursday a helicopter of the Russian Transport Ministry from the air discovered charred debris of the Mi-6, missed since July 10. It has been found 110 kilometers away from the Eklips border guard post near the Gusinaya river.

On July 10 the Mi-6 flew from the Dikson airport to the border guard post. It has never arrived there. On its board were nine crewmen, twelve passengers and three tonnes of cargoes.