Lake Baikal Hovercraft Overturns With 18 Aboard, Killing 5
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 20
Lake Baikal Hovercraft Overturns With 18 Aboard, Killing 5
6 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 20
Five people died after a Sever-750 tourist hovercraft capsized just offshore on Lake Baikal with 18 people aboard, and rescuers pulled 13 survivors from the frigid water, including a child.
Early reports said the craft may have become unstable after moving onto thin ice near the shoreline, while investigators are also examining whether overcrowding contributed to the accident.
Russian media said the hovercraft was designed for no more than 10 passengers but was carrying 18 people and heavy equipment; one survivor was hospitalized with a leg injury.
The Investigative Committee and the Buryat Transport Prosecutor's Office opened inquiries as local operators said the model was poorly suited to Baikal's rough, storm-prone conditions.
Was the Baikal hovercraft tragedy caused by a reckless captain or a failure of Russian regulation?
Why are tourists repeatedly dying on one of Russia's most iconic natural wonders?