Mi-8 military helicopter crashes near Moscow, crew dies

The crew of the Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian aerospace forces that crash landed near Moscow has died, the Russian defense ministry said.

"A Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian aerospace that was on a training flight crash landed 20 kilometers of the settlement of Klin, Moscow region, in a desolate location at about 20:00 Moscow time on May 19. The crew died of injuries," TASS cited the ministry as saying.

"According to preliminary data, the crash might have been caused by a technical failure," it said, adding that there were no broadside munitions onboard.

The source in the emergencies services said the rotorcraft was destroyed in the accident.

"The helicopter has been practically destroyed. The crew of three has died," the source said, adding that there were no damages on the ground.