The Mi-8 helicopter went down during a training mission late Wednesday, killing Roman Frolov, the chief of the Zhukovsky aviation rescue center, and two other men. It crashed into a forest about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of the capital.
The cause of the crash wasn't immediately clear, but some Russian reports mentioned engine failure as a possible cause.
The Emergencies Ministry on Thursday praised Frolov as a seasoned professional who has proven his skills in putting down forest fires and other missions.
The twin-engine Mi-8 has been a mainstay of Soviet and then Russian aviation since it entered service in the late 1960s and also has been widely used worldwide.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
