Russia’s civil aviation regulator (Rosaviatsiya) has launched a safety probe into Vityaz-Aero (Eisk) following an August 31, 2024, crash of one of its Mil Helicopter Mi-8s in which all 22 people on board died.
The authorities are focusing on whether recommendations made after a 2021 crash, which led to restrictions on the Kamchatka-based carrier's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), were duly implemented. Following that crash, in which eight out of 16 individuals on board died, Vityaz-Aero was temporarily banned from conducting any passenger operations, but the prohibition was lifted in early January 2022. The regulator is also evaluating the carrier's crew training procedures.
RA-25656 (msn 9954295) crashed shortly after take-off from a remote area in Kamchatka, carrying 19 tourists and three crew members back to the village of Nikolaevka, Kamchatka Krai. The wreckage was found on September 1.
Vityaz-Aero is a helicopter specialist with a remaining fleet of ten Mi-8s. It does not operate any fixed-wing aircraft.
