WATCH the horrifying moment a Russian helicopter spirals out of control before smashing into the ground and erupting into a massive fireball.
The footage shows the Ka-226 chopper with its tail section dangling in mid-air, before it plummets to the earth in a fiery explosion.
CCTV footage shows the disastrous sequence unfold as the aircraft originally clips a pier as it attempts to land.
The pilot decides to pull up as the damaged tail is left dangling from the aircraft.
He then brings the helicopter down again in the shallow sea, but instead of cutting the engine the pilot decides to pull up once more.
They then head out over the sea, gaining height.
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By some miracle, even with a broken tail the helicopter is still airborne.
However, it is clear that the pilot is struggling for control.
The helicopter is then seen heading towards land to look for somewhere to make an emergency landing.
Before it can do so, it starts to spin out of control, plunging to the ground.
The footage cuts out before a separate video shows the helicopter quickly going up in flames near the shore line.
Another recording from some distance away shows clouds of smoke filing the sky
The Ka-226 had been carrying war-linked defence plant workers when it crashed.
Four people were burnt to death and three others survived.
They are seriously injured in intensive care.
The pilot – who is amongst those critically injured – has faced strong criticism back in Russia.
Many other pilots have questioned why he decided to climb out of the safer shallower water.
Conflict Intelligence Team founder Ruslan Leviev said: “It feels like a drunk helicopter pilot decided to show off.
“At the very last moment, he realised he wasn’t going to make the landing spot and put the helicopter into a climb.
“Then, for some reason, he took off from the water again.
“Why? You’re already sitting safely, then get to land on the water a second time.
“A clearly visible panic of the pilot.”
Four senior staff from Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant were killed in the crash.
There were named as Chief Engineer Sergey Suslov, Chief Helicopter Design Engineer Sirajutdin Saaduev, Deputy General Director for Transport Support Achalo Magomedov, and driver Islam Dzhabrailov.
The plant has been sanctioned over its involvement in the war in Ukraine.
It makes ground control and diagnostic systems and equipment for Sukhoi and MiG military planes.
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The cause of the crash was described as a “catastrophe” by the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency.
The Ka-226 was flying from Kizlyar to a recreation base when the ordeal unfolded.