Russian Helicopter Sinks After Crashing in Mediterranean 

A Russian Mi-8MT helicopter crashed and sank in the Mediterranean while working to extinguish a forest fire in Turkey, Russia's state-run media reported.

The helicopter, which was operating under Russia's Abakan Air, sank near the town of Adana in Turkey after crew members attempted to take water for firefighting work on August 2, a representative of the Moscow-based Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) told news agency Interfax.

Abakan Air performs domestic and international charter flights, providing aviation services in Russia and overseas, including search and rescue, medical flights and cargo charter flights, its website states.

Newsweek contacted Russia's defense ministry for comment by email.

A fire had broken out in a forest area in the town at about 3:45 p.m. local time, and the authorities called on two helicopters and water trucks to tackle the blaze, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) said.

"According to available information, while taking water for firefighting work, the aircraft collided with the water surface and sank. There were three crew members and two passengers on board; there were no casualties," the IAC spokesperson said.

According to AA, three of those on board the helicopter at the time of the crash were Russian nationals. All five were airlifted to hospital after they were rescued.

"Unfortunately, the helicopter was destroyed in an accident while taking in water. The five personnel in the helicopter survived, only the helicopter fell into the water," regional governor Yavuz Selim Köşger told the news agency.

Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli said in a statement that the helicopter crashed while taking water from the Gökdere Dam.

"Thank God, our five personnel working in the helicopter were rescued in good health," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I wish our devoted crew a speedy recovery, and I would like to thank our Forestry Organization, which is fighting forest fires, and all our supporting institutions and their staff."

The U.S. sanctioned Russia's Abakan Air in June in response to President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. The sanctions package, which included more than 100 individuals and entities, was announced as G7 leaders prepared to meet in Italy.

The U.S. Department of State said the company that has performed domestic and international commercial charter freight flights has also "conducted arms deliveries on behalf of Russia's defense industrial base and transported other Russian military equipment."

"The United States will continue to use all tools at its disposal to disrupt support for Russia's military-industrial base and curtail Russia's ability to exploit the international financial system in furtherance of its war against Ukraine," the State Department said. "We continue to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians defending their homeland from Russia's aggression as well as with Russians striving for a more democratic future for their country."

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