A Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-8 helicopter crashed on Sakhalin Island on September 2 after reportedly losing power in both engines because it ran out of fuel — just 5 km (3 miles) from its destination airfield.
Dramatic footage shows the helicopter attempting to land directly on a highway, with its main rotor passing dangerously close to a truck. During the descent, the crew reportedly maneuvered the helicopter away from traffic to avoid hitting vehicles.
The Mi-8 ultimately came down in a roadside ditch and rolled onto its side. Images from the scene show tail number “72” on the fuselage, while a road sign was bent beneath the wreckage.
The Russian military Telegram channel Fighterbomber, citing the incident, said both engines had suffered a complete loss of power and that authorities were investigating why the helicopter exhausted its fuel. The channel did not provide details about the helicopter’s unit or confirm whether anyone was injured.
The incident comes amid reports of a wider aviation-fuel shortage in Russia following Ukrainian strikes on oil-refining infrastructure. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has claimed that Russia imported at least 70,000 tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel from South Korea and Egypt after domestic production was disrupted.
However, there is currently no evidence establishing a direct connection between the Sakhalin crash and Russia’s reported fuel-supply problems.
For the crew, one decision may have prevented a much worse outcome: instead of forcing the helicopter down onto traffic, they reportedly steered away from vehicles before the final impact.
