Helicopter crash kills three in Russia
A private helicopter with five people on board crashed into a large reservoir in the Urals mountains region of Russia tonight, killing at least three, authorities said.
The US-made Robertson 44 helicopter was taking off from the village of Stepanovo when it hit power transmission lines, sending the aircraft into the Votkinsk reservoir, regional emergency agency official Olga Trufimova said.
The village is in the Russian province of Udmurtia, about 1,000km (625 miles) east of Moscow.
Interfax reported the helicopter pilot had just picked up four passengers, including two children, before the crash occurred.
Rescuer workers recovered three bodies near the crash site, Trufimova said, including that of the pilot. Officials did not immediately know if any children were among the dead.
Rescue operations were still under way tonight.
