Russian Helicopter Crash In Siberia Kills At Least 19

A helicopter has crashed in Russia's republic of Sakha-Yakutia in Siberia, killing at least 19 people onboard.

Russia's civil aviation commission says that the Mi-8 operated by Polar Airlines caught fire after crashing on July 2.

It carried 25 passengers and three crew members.

The Interstate Aviation Committee quoted a surviving crew member as saying that 19 people were killed.

But state-run ITAR-TASS news agency later quoted a regional government official as saying 23 people were killed and five survived, including a child.

Sakha-Yakutia is a vast region stretching north of the Arctic Circle and helicopters are frequently used to transport people to remote areas.

Based on reporting by Reuters, ITAR-TASS, and RIA Novosti