"The helicopter crashed into a mountain at a height of 700-900 meters," the source said. "The crash could have occurred due to poor weather conditions."
The official said rescue operations had so far been halted because of the danger of avalanches and the late hour.
No one has been found dead or alive at the crash site, the republic's emergencies department said earlier Friday.
The local prosecutor's office said the helicopter had been certified as serviceable during a regular check before the flight.
According to the latest reports, officials from the prosecutor's office for transport have left for the crash site, and Alexander Shuklin, prosecutor of the Republic of Komi, is expected to arrive there Saturday morning.
A source in the local prosecutor's office said a criminal case could be launched as soon as the circumstances surrounding the crash had been established.
"A criminal case may be launched for breaches of flight safety and aircraft operation rules," the source said.
The Mi-8 helicopter belonging to the Gazpromavia carrier, on an environmental monitoring mission over-flying a national park, was reported missing Wednesday after its crew failed to get in touch with ground control.
The helicopter was carrying five crew members and one passenger.
