- Date
- 02/06/2001
- First
- Yury
- Surname
- Apollonov
- Sex/Age
- M
- Incident
- accident
- Motive
- J
- Place
- helicopter
- Job
- cameraman
- Medium
- TV
- Federal District Plus
- FAR EAST
- Street, Town, Region
- district, Khabarovsk Region
- Freelance
- no
- Local/National
- local, Dalnevostochnaya TRC
- Other Ties
- Cause of Death
- helicopter crash (4)
- Legal Qualification
- 263.3 (Violation of air traffic safety rules)
- Impunity
- trial, conviction, 23 July 2002
On 2 June 2001 a four-person team from the Dalnevostochnaya TV and radio company all died when the Mi-2 helicopter crashed as it approached the village they intended to film in the Khabarovsk Region.
Those killed were the company's local correspondent Larisa Maklakova, commentator Lydia Gemma, cameramen Yury Apollonov and Vladimir Pivovarov and a police lieutenant who was accompanying the team.
The helicopter struck electricity cables strung high above the village and crashed. Had the pilot been properly prepared he should have been aware of their existence. An experienced helicopter pilot criticised the investigation for its lack of independent experts and determination to classify the event as an unfortunate accident.
On 23 July 2002 the Khabarovsk Region Court sentenced the pilot, the only survivor, to a two year conditional sentence and a 1-year flying ban.