Overview

• Natalia Nagovitsyna fractured a leg during her Aug. 12 descent on Pik Pobeda and became immobilized above 7,000 meters.
• A Kyrgyz military Mi-8 attempting to reach her executed a forced landing around 4,900 meters, injuring crew members who were later transferred to Moscow for treatment.
• Rescuer Bair Batuev described the incident from onboard, recalling a warning of “We’re falling, prepare to fall” as strong lateral winds disrupted the approach.
• Authorities declared Nagovitsyna missing after repeated helicopter aborts and weathered-over ground efforts, despite earlier drone footage that had shown movement inside her tent.
• Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia died during a second attempt to aid her after delivering supplies days earlier, and rescuers say any recovery may not be feasible until 2026 on a peak with no recorded successful evacuations since 1955.