19 die as helicopter carrying oil workers crashes in Russia

In this handout photo, made available by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, a Mi-8 helicopter lies on the ground after it crashed about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Staryi Urengoi in Hassana, Russia. Russia's aviation agency says 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying oil workers crashed. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Russia's aviation agency says 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying oil workers crashed.

The Federal Air Transport Agency says in its statement Saturday that 16 of the 19 passengers on board and all three crew members died in Friday's crash in northern Russia.

The Mi-8 helicopter was traveling from Vankor to Staryi Urengoi in the Yamalo-Nenets region when it crashed about 28 miles northeast of Staryi Urengoi.

Rescuers found the helicopter lying on its side in the tundra. The agency said poor visibility and strong winds could have been factors.

The Mi-8 has been a mainstay of Soviet and Russian aviation since the late 1960s and is widely used worldwide.