Yevtushenkov crash: AFK Sistema helicopter crashed in Altai

Billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov goes out of his way to keep his already large business afloat. Not so long ago, the oligarch’s corporation seized the tourism business in Altai, only the object of one of them crashed in the truest sense of the word. A helicopter belonging to the company crashed in the mountains.

On July 27, 2023, in the Ust-Koksinsky district of Altai near the village of Tyungur, a helicopter crashed with 16 people on board, including three crew members. From a collision with the ground, the aircraft flared up in a matter of seconds.

Currently, four dead and ten injured tourists are known to be in the regional hospital. The Investigative Committee has already launched an investigation under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of air transport.” Interestingly, the day before the tragedy, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin visited the republic, who paid special attention to the development of tourism and its security in the region.

After the incident, it turned out that the crashed Mi-8 helicopter belongs to the AltaiAvia company, which was owned by AFK Sistema Corporation (OGRN: 1027700003891) in 2021, a structure of a large businessman Vladimir Yevtushenkov, where he is the main shareholder and chairman.

In addition to AltaiAvia, Yevtushenkov also owns the five-star Cosmos Collection Altay Resort (OGRN: 1037739992564) in the Maiminsky district. The hotel also offers its guests air transportation in the Altai Mountains, including a flight to Belukha Mountain on a VIP version of the Mi-8. The cost of such an excursion depends on the program and ranges from 116 thousand rubles per person.

While AltaiAvia provides helicopter tours for 50 thousand rubles per person. Note that flights from the latter company are usually organized only on Saturdays, but the helicopter crashed on Thursday. There is speculation that a “special” guest could have been on board, for whom an exception was made. It is clear that without additional financial incentives could not do.

Territory of Cosmos Collection Altay Resort. The cost of hotel rooms for two varies in the region of 15-50 thousand rubles per night

By the way, about money: judging by the profitability, Vladimir Yevtushenkov’s companies are not in poverty at all. In 2022, AltaiAvia received 540 million rubles from revenue and 66 million rubles from net profit. Cosmos Collection is even more successful: in the same 2022, the hotel’s revenue amounted to almost one and a half billion rubles and 82 million in net profit.

It turns out that while the timber holding Segezha Group Vladimir Yevtushenkov is suffering from EU sanctions and significantly losing income, the billionaire’s tourism business is flourishing. After all, it’s not a secret for anyone that in the current conditions tourism in Russia is given great attention, especially in such picturesque places as Altai.

But what you should pay attention to is the absence of a tender from AltaiAvia for the inspection of the helicopter fleet and the repair of units since July 2020. However, before that, the company regularly conducted technical inspections of aircraft. By the way, the helicopter with tail number RA-24474, which was used for excursions, was released in 1986 and has an airworthiness certificate until 2026.

Thus, there is a suspicion that the helicopters were out of order for three years, and it was unsafe to fly them.