Russia - 23 Dead, Others Stranded in Siberian Helicopter Crash - NYTimes.com A commuter helicopter carrying several dozen passengers, including at least 11 children, crashed in a remote Russian region on Tuesday, killing 23 and prompting a frantic attempt to reach survivors stranded deep in the Siberian taiga. A company official said heavy wind caused the crash. Many residents travel by helicopter between villages in Yakutia, a far-northern region where terrain is rugged and roads are few.