15 killed in Russian helicopter crash

A Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter crashed in Siberia on Thursday, killing all the 15 people on board,the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

Earlier reports by Interfax news agency said six of the 15 people were killed in the accident.

The helicopter, carrying 12 passengers and three crew members, went down in Siberia's Tyumen region bordering Kazakhstan and burst into flames, Interfax said.

The Mi-8 crashed when it was making an inspection flight over aforested area along with another helicopter.

The two helicopters took off from an airfield in the town of Raduzhnoye and the second helicopter immediately landed to give aid to the crashed one after the accident took place.

Rescue teams have been dispatched to the accident scene and investigation into the accident is underway.