Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing on Highway After Running Out of Fuel

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter was forced to make a hard emergency landing on a public highway in Sakhalin’s Dolinsky District after running out of fuel, before coming to rest in a roadside ditch. All eight people on board survived, with only minor injuries reported.

The incident occurred on September 2 on the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk–Dolinsk highway. The helicopter belonged to Aviation Detachment No. 11 based in Khabarovsk and had been provided by Russia’s Defence Ministry.

The helicopter was returning from Cape Terpeniye in the Poronaysky District, where it had been supporting early voting for Russia’s State Duma elections in remote areas. Those on board included a representative of the Sakhalin regional election commission, four local television journalists and three crew members.

According to the Russian aviation channel Fighterbomber, both engines shut down after the helicopter completely ran out of fuel approximately five kilometres from Sokol airfield.

The pilot reportedly managed to steer the powerless helicopter toward the highway and away from passing traffic before making the emergency landing. The aircraft subsequently rolled onto its side and came to rest in a roadside ditch.

The regional election commission said the passengers and crew suffered only bruises and scratches. No road users were injured and no vehicles were reportedly damaged.

Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with the circumstances surrounding the helicopter’s fuel exhaustion expected to be a key focus of the probe.