Five people were killed after a Russian Ka-226 helicopter crashed near the village of Achi-Su in the Republic of Dagestan on Friday. Footage circulating on social media shows the helicopter hitting the ground along the Caspian Sea’s shore, causing its tail to break off. The pilot apparently tries to regain control of the damaged aircraft as it hovers over shallow waters, briefly lifts off, and flies over the sea.For a brief moment, the helicopter stays afloat, but the pilot struggles to keep it stable before it spins out of control and crashes to the ground.The victims included four employees of the Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant (KEMZ), a defence company involved in aircraft equipment manufacturing, the company confirmed, reported Kyiv Independent.The plant’s deputy general director of construction and transport support and the helicopter’s flight mechanic were among those killed, while two others were injured.Initial reports from Russian state media suggested the aircraft was carrying tourists, but KEMZ later clarified that its staff members were on board. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Russia’s aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, has labelled it a “disaster” and said it is taking part in the probe.KEMZ has been sanctioned by the United States for supplying systems used in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The company manufactures control and diagnostic systems for Sukhoi and MiG aircraft jets that have been used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.