Ka-226 Helicopter Crash in Dagestan Claims Five Lives, Injures Two

Tragic Accident in Dagestan

A Ka-226 helicopter belonging to the Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant, a defense industry enterprise, crashed on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan. The incident, which occurred near the village of Achi-Su in the Karabudakhkent district, resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to two others. All individuals on board were employees of the plant.

Details of the Crash

The helicopter, with registration number RA-19307, was en route from Kizlyar to Izberbash when it went down. Witnesses reported that the aircraft caught fire during the flight, and the crew reportedly attempted an emergency landing on a beach along the Caspian Sea shore. Instead, the helicopter crashed into an unoccupied private house, which was subsequently destroyed. A fire broke out at the crash site, affecting an area of approximately 80 square meters, which emergency crews later contained.

Casualties and Ongoing Investigation

Initial reports indicated four fatalities, but the death toll rose to five after one of the three injured individuals succumbed to their injuries at an Izberbash hospital. The remaining two injured employees were hospitalized, with one reportedly in an extremely serious condition. Among the injured is Akhmat Akhmatov, the executive director of the Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant and son of its CEO.

Russian investigators have launched a criminal case into the crash under Part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to 'violation of aviation safety rules resulting in the death of two or more people by negligence.' Preliminary findings suggest a technical malfunction as a potential cause, specifically a 'failure of the turbine-gearbox connection,' which could have led to an uncontrolled increase in engine speed and an engine fire. The Southern Transport Prosecutor's Office is also conducting an investigation to determine all circumstances surrounding the incident.

Emergency Response and Aftermath

Emergency services, including 16 personnel and four units of equipment, were deployed to the crash site to manage the aftermath and extinguish the fire. The regional health ministry confirmed the casualties and the hospitalization of the injured, with some being transferred to a burn center in Makhachkala for specialized treatment.