Siberia, Russia: An MI-8 helicopter crashed in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in Russia. According to the initial reports, everyone on board has died.

Reportedly, the helicopter belonged to Utair Airline and was carrying 15 passengers and three crew members, all 18 of them have been confirmed dead. The helicopter is said to have been taking the workers to an oil well.

As per preliminary reports, the crash happened sometime after the takeoff. Fully filled fuel tanks are said to be the probable cause of the aircraft being subsumed by fire.

The Krasnoyarsk regional branch of the Emergencies Ministry confirmed the news at 10:20 am local time (3:20 GMT).

As per the sources in law enforcement and emergency services cited by Russian media, the helicopter's propeller blades struck the outside a cargo carried by another helicopter before the crash happened. The cargo helicopter had to ditch its load mid-air but was otherwise unaffected.

A criminal investigation has been launched by the Russian Investigative Committee to investigate into the neglect of aircraft safety guidelines that led to this crash.

(With agency inputs)