The Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Irkutsk province on Monday was transporting a large amount of explosives, a representative of the law enforcement agencies of the region told RIA Novosti.
There were several tons of explosives on the board of this helicopter of 'Angara' airline which were meant to loosen the ice on the northern rivers," the spokesman said.
According to him, the helicopter was Acting Chief of the Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Irkutsk province Stanislav Omelyanchik.
"We do not know whether he died or not," the representative of the law enforcement agencies added.