A unique operation to retrieve the crashed Mil Mi-8 helicopter to the surface has been carried out today. Tail and fuselage of the helicopter were lifted from 200 meters beneath the surface, there were no bodies in the fuselage. The search area for the passengers and crew of the helicopter that crashed near Spitsbergen (Norway) was expanded. Search operation is ongoing. The area is being examined by a side-looking sonar.

The hull of the Mil Mi-8 helicopter was retrieved to the surface from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday’s night. There were no passengers or crew members on board. A body of one person was found earlier.

There is a strong current in the search area, all efforts are focused on searching for the passengers and crew members that were not yet found.

The hull of the retrieved helicopter is in satisfactory condition. Flight recorders were not damaged in the crash. The hull is being examined by the experts.