Official Statement

On July 3 at 00:28 local time a UTair Helicopters Mi-8 bound for Surgut lost contact with dispatchers approximately 3 minutes after entering the Surgut Airport air traffic control space.

The UTair helicopter was returning from an ambulance mission, having delivered a child patient from Surgut to Nizhnevartovsk. The flight encountered difficult weather conditions including low cloud ceiling and isolated storms. Five people were onboard the helicopter, including two medics and three members of the air crew. Search and rescue operations are being conducted by UTair helicopters from the air and the teams from the Federal Ministry of Emergency Situations are working on the ground. UTair has dispatched additional helicopters to join the search operation.

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