19 killed in Ukrainian helicopter crash into Black Sea

KIEV, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter crashed into the Black Sea on Monday, killing 19 people on board, and one person survived the accident.

"The helicopter belongs to the Ukrainian state oil and gas company Blackseanaftogaz. The crash happened when the helicopter's tail struck part of an offshore platform operated by the company," spokesman for the company Yuri Avdeev was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying.

"The aircraft was carrying 20 people, including 3 crew members and 17 passengers. Nineteen have been found dead, and one person survived," Avdeev said.