Russian Aerobatic Helicopter Crashes

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One pilot died and another escaped with serious injuries when a Russian military helicopter crashed during an airshow in Russia on Sunday. The Mi-28N was taking part in a demonstration by the Berkuty (Golden Eagles) aerobatic team, which does formation aerobatics in the attack helicopters. Video shows the helicopter climbing for a breaking maneuver when it stops climbing and drops vertically under its slowly rotating rotor to the ground. Russian officials said a hydraulics system failure was to blame.

One pilot managed to get out of the fiery wreckage but the other didn’t. The head of the Russian air force, Vikto Bondarev, has grounded the fleet of Mi-28s until the exact cause can be pinned down. “The crew fought to save the helicopter to the end. Unfortunately, the chief pilot died on impact — the co-pilot survived. According to the second pilot, the accident occurred due to technical failure. I have suspended all Mi-28 flights. The commission under my leadership is working to clarify the causes of the disaster,” Bondarev said in a statement.

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