Helicopter crash in SW Siberia kills 3, injures 7

NOVOSIBIRSK, June 2 (RIA Novosti) - Three people died and seven were injured when a Russian military helicopter crashed on landing at a Siberian airfield Friday morning.

The Mi-8 helicopter, flying from Novosibirsk with 3 crewmembers and 13 passengers on board, crashed near the Western Siberian town of Kemerovo at 5.45 a.m. GMT, said Vladimir Berdnikov, a spokesman for the Emergency Situations Ministry's regional center.

He said all the passengers were paratroopers.

An investigation is underway to establish the causes of the crash.

The Mi-8 is a Russian-made multi-purpose transport helicopter similar to French Puma. It has a crew of three and can carry up to 28 passengers.