A Mi-26 military transport helicopter, operated by the Border Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia, collided with a lighting mast at Yakutsk Airport (YKS) on July 27, 2023.
The Mi-26, registered RF-06053, was attempting to land at Yakutsk Airport when the accident occurred.
A video of the incident shows the helicopter’s main rotor striking a lighting pole during the landing approach, resulting in damage to both the aircraft and the pole. Debris from the main rotor then caused the tail of the Mi-26 to detach from the aircraft.
There were no reported casualties among the helicopter’s crew or airport employees. Yakutsk Airport authorities are currently investigating the accident to determine the cause of the collision.
The Mi-26, also known by its NATO reporting name “Halo,” is a heavy-lift helicopter developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Designed by the Mil design bureau and produced by the Russian aerospace company Rostvertol, the Mi-26 is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the world, designed to carry out a wide range of demanding transport operations. It has a capacity of 82 people and can carry a payload of 20 tonnes.