A HERO pilot had a fatal heart attack mid-air – but incredibly still managed to land his helicopter full of sightseers on a volcano before he died.
Igor Kan, aged 59, became critically ill while piloting a helicopter solo with three passengers on board to view the Krasheninnikov volcano in eastern Russia, which has erupted this week for the first time in six centuries.
Battling the pain of a heart attack, he bravely made an emergency landing on the volcano to save the lives of his passengers.
The pilot died before an air ambulance could reach him, but the three passengers were safely evacuated.
The Kamchatka prosecutor’s office reported: “The pilot of a private helicopter carrying four passengers experienced a heart attack but was able to perform an emergency landing and requested medical help.”
“The pilot died before the arrival of the medical helicopter.
“He felt unwell during the landing on the volcano.”
Rescuers quickly arrived on the scene after the pilot himself sent out an urgent plea, according to local reports.
But tragically, the heart attack had killed him by the time they arrived.
His three sightseers were unharmed in the ordeal.
Igor provided aerial tours over the stunning Krasheninnikov volcano as well as the Valley of the Geysers, regarded as one of Russia’s top tourist attractions.
He reportedly charged £4,700 for a seat in the helicopter.
Friends said that he regularly took tourists on private trips in his Robinsons helicopter, and that he underwent regular medical check-ups.
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of his death.
