Nine people have been removed from an MI-8...

"Rescuers have been able to remove nine people, seven of whom are in satisfactory condition and two of whom are seriously injured and are being taken by helicopter to a hospital in Yelizovo," Natalya Lukash said, adding she had no information on the remaining passengers and crew on board.

Earlier on Saturday, the helicopter with a flight crew and 16 tourists on board failed to make radio contact at a specified time. Search operations were immediately started and another helicopter pilot spotted the missing aircraft at the base of a mountain under an avalanche and reported that the helicopter was damaged.

MOSCOW, April 10 (RIA Novosti)