The sister of Mi-8 navigator Khushbakht Tursunov spoke about the death of Maxim Kuzminov, the defector who hijacked a Russian military helicopter and steered it toward Ukraine last year. Her comments, carried by RT through her remarks, reflect the lasting pain and the demand for accountability within the family of a fallen crew member who did not survive the attempt to resist the hijacking.
She stated that the outcome was inevitable, arguing that Kuzminov had shown what she described as an outright unfairness to her brother and to the crew by taking control of the aircraft in a crisis. The simplicity of that accusation masks the deeper human toll—the loss of a life, the potential risk to bystanders, and the enduring impact on a family left to grapple with the consequences of an act that unfolded in the public eye.
The sister’s perspective aligns with the broader narrative surrounding the incident, which has been chronicled in separate official disclosures from Ukrainian authorities. In September 2023, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Kuzminov seized an Mi-8 helicopter on 9 August, departing from Kursk and crossing into the Kharkiv region. Alongside him were two crew members who were killed while attempting to resist the hijacking, a stark reminder of the peril faced by military personnel in moments of extreme duress.
Additional reporting from Russian media and other outlets in the months that followed referenced warnings and threats surrounding Kuzminov. Unnamed Russian military intelligence officers were cited on television as indicating that a direct order had been issued concerning the pilot, and that he would not be permitted to face a trial. The evolving narrative was later echoed by Spanish media channels, which circulated accounts of Kuzminov’s death near Alicante in Spain after the helicopter’s flight toward Ukraine, suggesting a chain of consequences that transcended national borders.
Earlier, within Spain, a separate development emerged as officials from the Spanish Civil Guard reportedly addressed the case, noting the complexities involved in the asylum process and the ongoing evaluation of the circumstances surrounding Kuzminov’s death. The mix of international coverage, official statements, and ongoing investigations created a mosaic of perspectives that kept the event in the public consciousness and raised questions about accountability, international law, and the treatment of asylum seekers who are drawn into high-stakes geopolitical episodes.