Aircraft Went Down In A Lake With 'Top Regional Officials', Others On Board

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter went down in a remote region near Munozero Lake on the northwestern Kola peninsula on Saturday with 18 people on board. Seven are confirmed to have been fatally injured in the accident.

Two survivors were discovered by fishing boats on the lake, both having suffered broken legs in the accident. Divers have recovered seven bodies from the lake, according to the French news service AFP. The other nine said to be on board the aircraft are presumed to have been killed in the accident. While a spokeswoman for the regional emergency ministry said there is "probably no hope," the others have not been officially declared dead. "We are adults ... but we will be hoping until the last minute," said spokeswoman Tatyaha Zakharova.

AFP reports that, according to local officials, among those on the aircraft were a deputy governor of the Murmansk region as well as the head and deputy head of Apatit ... a company that produces phosphate fertilizers.

The two who survived were found unconscious and still strapped in their seats, according to the report. The flight was said to have been a "working visit," but no details were given.

(Kola Peninsula pictured in public domain image)

FMI: www.civilavia.ru/