From correspondents in Europe, 07:30 AM IST

Irkutsk (Russia), May 11 (RIA Novosti) Five people, including the governor of the Irkutsk Region, were killed in a helicopter crash in East Siberia, the emergencies ministry said Sunday.

The helicopter, which was performing a regular observation flight, crashed early Sunday southeast of Irkutsk.

Igor Yesipovsky, 49, was appointed governor of the Irkutsk Region in November 2008.

An investigation into the incident has been launched.

--RIA Novosti

snb

(Staff Writer, © IANS)