Two British anglers on an ‘ultimate’ fishing trip in the remote Russian Arctic were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.

The men and their Russian guide died when they were hit by the rotor blades of their chartered aircraft.

Both Britons were said to be in their late sixties and were on a custom salmon fishing trip to the Kola Peninsula, 90 miles from the port city of Murmansk.

They were named by Russian officials but the Foreign Office would not confirm their identities until their families were informed.

As the craft attempted to take off, it banked suddenly to one side and its rotor blades hit the men where they stood with their guide, Alexander Tushnikov.

The pilot, said to have 25 years’ flying experience, survived the crash with injuries.

Lines of inquiry are likely to include whether the helicopter was caught by a sudden gust of wind, causing it to tilt, or if it suffered a mechanical failure.

The Kola Peninsula was previously a top secret area, home to the Red October submarine base and the Soviet navy’s northern fleet.

Now it is known as the ultimate destination for high-end fishing tours for Atlantic salmon, attracting anglers from around the world.

Operators say the region has not been overfished like many popular salmon rivers and that competent anglers can catch more than 100 salmon in a week, with some fish weighing up to 40lb.

The peak season runs from June to August, when the area north of the Arctic Circle enjoys 24-hour daylight.

Outside the season, the rivers are frozen for three or four months a year.