Close X
Sunday, January 12, 2025
ADVT 
National

Missing Russian Helicopter Pilot Found 'Alive And Well' On Ice Floe In Northern Canada: Military

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Jul, 2015 11:29 AM
    IQALUIT, Nunavut — A Russian helicopter pilot survived a crash of his small helicopter into frigid Arctic waters by scrambling into a life-raft and then spending over 30 hours awaiting rescue on an ice floe, military officials said Monday.
     
    Sergey Ananov was on a solo, around-the-world journey in his single-engine aircraft and was about halfway between Iqualuit and Greenland when his Robinson R22 helicopter ditched in the Davis Strait on Saturday afternoon.
     
    Rear Admiral John Newton says the search and rescue co-ordination centre was notified after an on-board beacon indicated Ananov's single-seat aircraft had descended to sea level and stopped moving.
     
    The admiral said the 49-year-old sociologist and journalist had his life-raft close at hand and his survival suit was on as it hit the water.
     
    "It's wet, it's cold, he has some polar bear neighbours who are very interested in his whereabouts. He has quite a survival story."
     
    Newton said Ananov fired off flares but they couldn't be seen in the cloudy, misty conditions by rescue aircraft and helicopters that had been dispatched to the scene.
     
    However, early on Monday morning a watchkeeper with the coast guard vessel Pierre Radisson, which had set out from Frobisher Bay to find the lost aviator, spotted one of the flares fired from the floe.
     
    The vessel sent its helicopter to retrieve Ananov, who by then had been on the ice approximately 32 hours.
     
    Newton said the flight the pilot was attempting was risky even by military standards.
     
    "When we fly our big Cormorant search and rescue, multi-engine helicopters over the ocean, we fly a Hercules (plane) on top to make sure our helicopter is safe," he said during an interview at the search and rescue centre in Halifax.
     
    "There's clear risk when operating in the north ... from our point of view, we fly differently,"
     
    The admiral said the military search centre worked on the assumption that Ananov was alive throughout the rescue attempt, but knew that heaving oceans and extreme cold posed risks as the hours went by.
     
    "We never gave up on him. There's a combined story of his tale of woe and the determined search by search and rescue ... the coast guard should be proud of what they achieved today," said Newton.
     
    Capt. Wayne Jarvis, who was working at the search and rescue centre at the time of the rescue, said it's believed the cause of the crash was a mechanical problem.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Former Miss Nevada Katherine Nicole Rees Arrested On Meth Trafficking Charges

    Former Miss Nevada Katherine Nicole Rees Arrested On Meth Trafficking Charges
    Former Miss Nevada Katherine Nicole Rees was arrested for allegedly selling and being in possession of meth.

    Former Miss Nevada Katherine Nicole Rees Arrested On Meth Trafficking Charges

    Teen Facing Sex-related Charges Makes First Appearance In Central Alberta Court

    Teen Facing Sex-related Charges Makes First Appearance In Central Alberta Court
    RED DEER, Alta. — A 17-year-old youth facing nine sexual assault charges related to boys and girls in central Alberta has made his first court appearance.

    Teen Facing Sex-related Charges Makes First Appearance In Central Alberta Court

    Income Growth For So-called One Percenters Not Tied To Talent, Performance

    Income Growth For So-called One Percenters Not Tied To Talent, Performance
    CALGARY — A new study says a dramatic

    Income Growth For So-called One Percenters Not Tied To Talent, Performance

    Employment Insurance Fraud Surpasses $100-million, But Government Sees Long Collection Times

    Employment Insurance Fraud Surpasses $100-million, But Government Sees Long Collection Times
    OTTAWA — The collection bill for money fraudulently claimed through the employment insurance program has surpassed $100 million, but the government doesn't expect to collect the money any time soon.

    Employment Insurance Fraud Surpasses $100-million, But Government Sees Long Collection Times

    Paul Martin Accuses Harper Government Of Underfunding Aboriginal Schools

    Paul Martin Accuses Harper Government Of Underfunding Aboriginal Schools
    MONTREAL — The Harper government is underfunding aboriginal schools and depriving First Nations children of any real chance of success, former prime minister Paul Martin said Thursday.

    Paul Martin Accuses Harper Government Of Underfunding Aboriginal Schools

    Brief Court Appearance For Winnipeg Man Accused Of Sending Letter Bombs

    Brief Court Appearance For Winnipeg Man Accused Of Sending Letter Bombs
    WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man accused of sending letter bombs to his ex-wife and  two law firms has appeared briefly in court via video link.

    Brief Court Appearance For Winnipeg Man Accused Of Sending Letter Bombs