Russian military helicopter crashes outside Moscow, crew killed

A Russian army Mi-8 helicopter crashed outside Moscow during a training flight on Tuesday, killing the crew, the defence ministry said.

“As a result of a crash landing the crew of the helicopter died of their wounds,” the ministry said.

Defence ministry spokespeople reached by AFP declined to say how many crew members had died.

But Russian news agencies, citing emergencies services, said three people died.

The helicopter, which did not carry ammunition, crashed in a secluded area some 20km (12 miles) from the town of Klin outside Moscow around 8pm, the ministry said.

It added that a ministry commission had been dispatched to the scene to investigate the causes of the crash.