Tourist helicopter crashes in Russian crater lake; 8 missing

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Rescue workers in far eastern Russia are searching for eight people who are missing and fear dead after a helicopter carrying tourists crashed into a deep volcanic lake. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry says 13 tourists and three crew members were aboard the helicopter when it went down Thursday in Kurile Lake, located in a Kamchatka Peninsula nature reserve. Officials say the eight survivors located so far had to swim about 29.5 feet up to the surface from the sinking helicopter in water that was 41 to 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The helicopter was an Mi-8 manufactured during the Soviet era 37 years ago. The operating company says the helicopter recently underwent maintenance and was in good shape.