Rescue teams Friday located a helicopter that had been missing in northern Russia for three days but found no signs of life and feared the worst for the six people on board. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry reported it reached the scene where the helicopter crashed in the Komi republic, 1,300 kilometres northeast of Moscow, and that "unfortunately nobody was found alive," dpa quoted Interfax as saying. The Gazpromavia helicopter was carrying five crew and a forestry worker and went missing Friday after depositing a group of Gazprom officials at a pipeline site near the city of Ukhta. Gazpromavia is a subsidiary of Gazprom, Russia's state-owned natural gas monopoly. Citing safety violations, the EU lost month banned the airline and eight other Russian carriers from flying in EU airspace. Earlier reports on Friday said search helicopters flying overhead had spotted a person waving near the scene of the crash. The emergency ministry said Friday evening, however, there were no signs of life, adding that rescue workers were beginning the "search and and removal from the debris of the bodies of the deceased" crew and passenger. Gazpromavia said a special commission will be created to investigate the reasons for the helicopter's crash.
