Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said 16 people were missing and two survived with injuries after an Mi-8 helicopter crashed into a lake in Russia's northwestern Murmansk region.
The helicopter which had five crew members on board crashed late on May 31 near the village of Vostochnoye Munozero.
Earlier reports had said the helicopter was carrying 19 people.
The passengers have not been officially identified.
Reports said they included senior regional officials and businessmen, including the director of the Apatit company, a fertilizer supplier.
Investigators were looking into possible aircraft malfunction, pilot error, and bad weather as likely causes of the crash.
The ministry said bad weather initially prevented rescue efforts. Some 100 rescuers were working at the site on June 1.
The helicopter which had five crew members on board crashed late on May 31 near the village of Vostochnoye Munozero.
Earlier reports had said the helicopter was carrying 19 people.
The passengers have not been officially identified.
Reports said they included senior regional officials and businessmen, including the director of the Apatit company, a fertilizer supplier.
Investigators were looking into possible aircraft malfunction, pilot error, and bad weather as likely causes of the crash.
The ministry said bad weather initially prevented rescue efforts. Some 100 rescuers were working at the site on June 1.