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Two bodies found at helicopter crash site in Komi

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Two bodies have been discovered at the crash site of a Mi-8 helicopter in the northwestern Urals, prosecutors of the Komi republic said Friday.
ST. PETERSBURG/MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti) -- Two bodies have been discovered at the crash site of a Mi-8 helicopter in the northwestern Urals, prosecutors of the Komi republic said Friday.

"Rescue operations at the site are continuing, although deep snow is complicating the rescue effort," a spokesman said.

Earlier Friday, a source in the local emergencies ministry department said the crash may have been caused by poor weather conditions.

"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 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 spokesman for the local prosecutor's office said a criminal case could be launched "for breaches of flight safety and aircraft operation rules" as soon as the circumstances surrounding the crash had been established.

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.

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