One killed in military helicopter crash in Russian Federation

There were no injuries to ground personnel, and the audience was evacuated.

A pilot died after a Russian military helicopter, which was a part of a display team, crashed while performing a manoeuvre during an air show today.

The Russian airforce proceeded to ground all Mi-28 flights after it was revealed that the crash could have been caused by equipment failure.

“According to preliminary report of the hospitalized pilot of Mi-28N, when performing an aerobatic stunt, the emergency alert system of the helicopter reported the failure of the hydraulic boost system”, the Defense Ministry’s press service said in a statement. There have been at least six incidents over the past several weeks involving Russian military planes and helicopters.

Risky business… A Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter similar to this one was taking part in an air show when it crashed in front of thousands of spectators, killing one pilot. Unfortunately, the chief pilot died on impact – the co-pilot survived.

The air show Aviadarts, where airforce plane and helicopter crews compete to carry out timed tasks, was suspended after the accident. Reuters footage showed a figure emerging from the wreckage after it burst into flame.

An explosion occurs as firefighters try to extinguish the blaze.

Russia’s air force has used the Soviet-designed Mi-28 since the mid-2000s, and the aircraft is also exported to numerous countries, including Iraq.