3 killed in a helicopter crash in Chechnya

A military helicopter crashed in the Russian republic of Chechnya on early Saturday, killing three of four people on board, Russian News Agency (RIA Novosti) reported. The incident is tentatively blamed on heavy fog in the vicinity of the Khankala military base and not terrorist activity in the once-volatile North Caucasus republic, the official said on condition of anonymity. Only crew members were on board of the Mi-8 helicopter at the time of the crash, the unnamed official said, adding that the surviving pilot was hospitalized. A check was ongoing. This is the second helicopter-related incident in Russia in as many days. On Friday, another Mi-8 hit the ground with its rotor blade in the city of Khabarovsk in the Far East, crashing on launch.