Harrowing video footage shows the moment a Russian helicopter smashed into a pier and bashed its tail off — with the pilot then bizarrely choosing to fly out to sea before the losing control and crashing.

Five senior members of a Russian defense manufacturer were killed in the crash.

The dramatic clip reveals a badly botched landing in Russia’s Republic of Dagestan region on Nov. 7

After clipping off its tail, the helicopter then drifts along the Caspian Sea — possibly searching for somewhere else to land.

Separate CCTV footage reportedly shows the Ka-226 utility copper smashing into a residential building and exploding in flames.

An onlooker’s video of the dramatic moment has racked up thousands of comments on the r/aviation subreddit , with many questioning the pilot’s decision n

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