Kremlin blame pilot error or technical fault for Russian air disaster

The primary photos have emerged of the pilot being blamed for the Sochi air catastrophe that claimed the lives of 92 individuals.

Roman Volkov, 35, was on the controls of the aircraft when it crashed into the Black Sea.

His stays had been pulled out of the water final night time together with fragments of 70 different our bodies, based on regulation enforcement sources.

Even earlier than the black containers have been retrieved from the ocean, the skilled airman is being blamed for an error that induced the crash.

Russia's transport minister Maxim Sokolov stated the Kremlin was not investigating terrorism as a reason behind the crash. 

That is regardless of aviation specialists claiming with out proof from the navy Tu-154 aircraft, a terror assault might nonetheless be believable. 

Greater than three,500 rescue staff on 32 ships - together with over 100 divers flown in from throughout Russia - have been looking out the crash website at sea and alongside the shore.

Helicopters, drones and submersibles had been getting used to assist spot our bodies and particles and rescue staff have discovered fragments of the jet some 82 toes underwater.

The primary photos have emerged of Roman Volkov, pictured, who's being blamed for the Sochi air catastrophe that claimed the lives for 92 individuals

Navy personnel watch on a pier as navy ship sails close to the crash website of a Russian navy Tu-154 aircraft, which crashed into the Black Sea on its option to Syria on Sunday, within the Black Sea resort metropolis of Sochi, Russia

That is the final image of the Tu-154 earlier than it crashed into the Black Sea. It was posted by NTV cameraman Evgeny Tolstov

A helicopter flies subsequent to ships close to the crash website of a Russian navy Tu-154 aircraft, which crashed into the Black Sea, killing everybody on board

Rescue staff participate in a search and rescue operation on the crash website of a Russian Protection Ministry aircraft

A Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft of the Russian Protection Ministry with 92 individuals on board crashed into the Black Sea close to the town of Sochi on Christmas Day as rescue staff plan their operation

Boats scour the Black Sea for fragments of the aircraft that was carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, Russian servicemen and journalists, and Yelizaveta Glinka (referred to as Physician Liza), Spravedlivaya Pomoshch [Just Aid] Worldwide Public Organisation director

Rescue personnel watch on a pier as navy ship sails close to the crash website of a Russian navy Tu-154 aircraft

Pilot Mr Volkov (pictured) holds the rank 'pilot top quality' and is the son of Colonel Alexander Volkov, a distinguished navy pilot

A regulation enforcement spokesman stated: 'A physique was discovered when lifting giant elements of the fuselage.

'It was decided in the course of the lifting to the shore that this was Captain Roman Volkov from the insignia on his uniform.'

There have been offended denials that some passengers had been sporting life jackets.

Russian Defence Ministry stated: 'All rumours citing nameless sources saying that passengers of the Tu-154 jet that crashed had been allegedly sporting life vests are shameful insinuations and completely inconsistent with the truth.'

Particles together with our bodies of the victims had been within the water on mile from the shore at a depth of 89 toes, stated officers.

Divers had retrieved 'two components of the aircraft's management mechanism', stated regulation enforcement officers with out elaborating.

'No indicators or information pointing to a attainable act of terror have been obtained right now,' stated the FSB safety service.

Pilot Mr Volkov holds the rank 'pilot top quality' and is the son of Colonel Alexander Volkov, a distinguished navy pilot.

Roman Volkov had a spouse and three kids

He graduated Balashov Greater Navy Aviation Faculty.

He and his spouse Elena had three kids and lived in Schelkov, Moscow area.

His pal, Anna Saranina stated at the moment: 'Roman actually lived within the sky.

'There was no different curiosity for him.

'Once we final met, he instructed me that these days he usually flew to Syria - numerous flights.

'He didn't say extra - navy secrets and techniques. He was not afraid to fly, no premonitions. 

'He simply did his obligation.' 

All 84 passengers and eight crew members on the Russian navy's Tu-154 aircraft are believed to have died on Sunday when it crashed two minutes after taking off from the southern Russian metropolis of Sochi. 

Passengers included dozens of singers in Russia's well-known navy choir, 9 Russian journalists and a Russian physician identified for her charity work in struggle zones. 

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov stated in televised remarks on Monday that terrorism was not among the many predominant theories, and that authorities had been wanting right into a attainable technical fault or a pilot error.

Russia's intelligence company FSB has additionally stated it sees no indicators of a attainable terror plot in Sunday's aircraft crash over the Black Sea. 

The FSB stated in a press release quoted by Russian information companies that it 'has not discovered any indicators or information pointing to a attainable terror assault or sabotage on board'.

The intelligence company stated it's focusing the probe on prospects together with pilot error, low high quality of gasoline, exterior objects getting within the engine or an unspecified technical fault.

Nonetheless, a number of aviation specialists famous components that might counsel a terror assault, such because the crew's failure to report any malfunction and the truth that aircraft particles was scattered over a large space.

'Doable malfunctions ... definitely would not have prevented the crew from reporting them,' Vitaly Andreyev, a former senior Russian air visitors controller, instructed RIA Novosti.

Flowers in reminiscence of passengers and crew members of Russian navy Tu-154

A lady lays flowers in reminiscence of passengers and crew members at an embankment within the Black Sea resort metropolis of Sochi, Russia

An individual lays flowers in reminiscence of the 92 individuals who misplaced their lives within the Sochi air catastrophe

A Russian aircraft has disappeared from radar over Sochi whereas en path to Syria. The lacking aircraft was a Tu-154 mannequin (pictured)

Rescue divers participate within the operation within the Black Sea which has to date solely recovered 11 our bodies

Quite a few victims plucked from the ocean had been sporting life jackets, it was reported at the moment.

No additional particulars got, however it indicated that at the very least a number of the passengers and crew on board had time to organize for an emergency touchdown within the sea.

Regardless of this, there was no SOS from chief pilot Volkov to air visitors management in Sochi.

A witness, who noticed the doomed aircraft hurtling in direction of the Black Sea, stated there was a vibrant flash within the sky moments earlier than she heard a giant splash.

Irina Avdeeva, 35, a Sochi resident, was strolling together with her boyfriend on the seaside shortly earlier than daybreak on Christmas Day when the Tupolev crashed.

'We had been listening to the sound of the ocean,' she stated.

'Then we heard the aircraft taking off, the engines had been working usually.

'The one factor - I noticed then with the nook of my eye a vibrant flash.' 

'Then I noticed splash - and it was very large,' she stated.

'I had thought that truly it may very well be a aircraft that had fallen into the ocean, however I attempted to banish that thought.

'There was no else round.

'We didn't see anybody. It was after 5 am, nearer to six am.

'It was Adler (a suburb of Sochi, bear the airport), the embankment, near Fregat [hotel].

'I noticed the splash - that's really what I noticed. The final I noticed, when it was near the ocean...and that is all.

'It seems it fell proper into the ocean. At that second I didn't hear the roar of engines.

'That's the engines stopped at that second. They had been buzzing, buzzing.

'Then at one second, they stopped. And there have been these splashes within the sea.  

Two ladies cry close to an workplace of Honest help charity group, based by Physician Yelizaveta Glinka in Moscow

Russian safety officers have cautioned in opposition to the speculation the navy aircraft was downed by terrorists, however some specialists disagree.

At present, the search social gathering expanded the world and stated some particles might have landed in Abkhazia, formally a province of Georgia which is now beneath Russian sway.

Knowledgeable Dr Vadim Lukashevich instructed Novaya Gazeta newspaper was perhaps a terrorist strike - in revenge for Syrian airstrikes.

'It it was a terrorist act, we should perceive that that is the reply for us to Aleppo,' he stated.

'It's stated almost certainly it was piloting error or technical failure.

'However the reality is that in the course of the seven minute flight, the aircraft managed to achieve an honest top.

'From such a top the fragments discovered somewhere else is an excessive amount of.

'This means that it started to interrupt up in air.

'No technical failure can result in the destruction of the plane within the air....

'The aircraft's destruction started within the sky, it signifies that already one thing extraordinary had occurred.

'This was not a flock of birds, as hit the aircraft which downed within the Hudson River after entering into bother by hitting a flock of birds.

'This was a extra severe whole and fast failure of the aircraft.'

Skilled pilot and ex-commander Sergey Knyshov, and air defence knowledgeable, stated: 'Planes don't fall similar to that ...

'Firstly, the gear, and the navy pilots are the very best.

'Second, the climate situations, so far as I do know, had been additionally good.

'Furthermore, even when there was an emergency state of affairs onboard, the crew would report it to the bottom.

'However this was not finished. So, they simply didn't have time.

'It seems that one thing occurred on board which prevented pilots doing this.

'The aircraft was not more than in 5 kilometres from the coast.

'However there should have been a flash and witnesses who noticed it.'

Mourners lit candles at Sochi Adler airport's chapel and laid flowers at an improvised shrine that featured photographs of the aircraft and of some victims.

The aircraft, which originated from Moscow's navy airport of Chkalovsky and stopped in Sochi for refuelling, was taking the Defence Ministry's choir, the Alexandrov Ensemble, to carry out at a New 12 months's live performance on the Russian air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia.

Regardless of the Syrian connection, Mr Sokolov stated the federal government noticed no have to heighten safety measures at Russian airports.

The Black Sea search space - which covers over 4 sq. miles - is affected by underwater currents that may carry particles and physique fragments into the open sea. 

Mr Sokolov stated the aircraft's flight recorders didn't have radio beacons, so finding them on the seabed was going to be difficult.

Russia requested the authorities of Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia, which borders Russia simply over 4 miles east of the Sochi airport, to assist monitor the Black Sea space for attainable aircraft fragments or our bodies.

Russian planes have been hit earlier than by terror assaults, together with one simply final 12 months.

In October 2015, a aircraft carrying principally Russian vacationers again from vacation in Egypt was introduced down by a bomb over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 individuals aboard.

Roman Valutov, 29, was within the record of the plane passengers, however didn't board the doomed flight as his passport expired in July

Officers stated the explosive was planted within the aircraft's baggage compartment. 

Islamic State claimed accountability.

A singer within the Crimson Military Choir declared useless within the Sochi air catastrophe was later discovered to be alive as his passport was old-fashioned and he was forbidden to fly.

The Tu-154 mannequin aircraft, which belonged to the Russian defence ministry, crashed two minutes after leaving the southern metropolis of Adler at 5.40am (2.40am GMT). There have been no survivors.

The navy aircraft was carrying troopers, reporters and 64 members of the famed Alexandrov navy music ensemble who had been to carry out for Russian troops in Syria as a part of New 12 months celebrations. 

Roman Valutov, 29, was within the record of the plane passengers, however didn't board the doomed flight as his passport expired in July.

He stated: 'I used to be going by immigration and the woman there stated: 'Are you joking? Your passport expired again in July.'

'I hadn't realised. She instructed me to attend. I stood there worrying if I would be allowed to fly, and in a couple of minutes I used to be instructed: 'You are not going wherever.'

'I used to be nervous in regards to the mistake over my passport, however I went residence.

'I used to be there at three.30 am and afterwards individuals begin calling me, asking if I used to be alive. I checked and located myself within the record of the useless.

'I used to be crying. My mates and family members are shocked.' 

Soloist Vadim Ananyev, whose spouse simply delivered a child and pleaded with him to stay at residence to assist, additionally prevented boarding the flight. The couple have three babies.

He stated: 'I really feel as if I had been hit over the pinnacle. I nonetheless cannot imagine it. They're telling me now I used to be born with a silver spoon.' 

Fragments of the plane had been discovered about one mile from the Black Beach of Sochi

Rescue staff push a cart with stays of the navy aircraft which crashed within the Black Sea

A frantic search operation is underway to find the our bodies of these killed within the aircraft crash

The Russian Defence Ministry stated it discovered particles from the lacking Tu-154 within the Black Sea one mile from Sochi

Russian police concerned within the rescue operation at a pier outdoors Sochi at the moment 

Ralina Gilmanova, 22, and her fiancé Mikhail, who had been members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, had been additionally killed.

The younger couple had been engaged final 12 months and resulting from marry quickly.  

TU-154 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS 

Tu-154 plane have been concerned in a variety of accidents prior to now.

In April 2010 many high-ranking Polish officers, together with then president Lech Kaczynski, had been killed when a Tu-154 airliner went down in thick fog whereas approaching the Smolensk airport in western Russia.

A Tu-154, operated by Siberian Airways, was shot down over the Black Sea in October 2001, killing 78 individuals.

The aircraft was travelling from Tel Aviv in Israel to Novosibirsk in Russia, and a lot of the passengers had been Israeli.

A 3-year-old boy was orphaned by the crash after his dad and mom Oleg and Ekaterina Korzanov, dancers within the Crimson Military Choir, died within the crash.

The boy, Artem, who will probably be 4 in February, was staying with family members.    

Singer Alexander Shutko, 30, posted a haunting final picture minutes earlier than the doomed flight crashed within the Black Sea.

His sister, Emma, stated: 'Alexander known as me and stated 'we're already on board, taking off in 15 minutes, I will name you after we cease in Sochi.

'However he did not name us. We tried to contact him however his cellphone was out of protection.'

She stated he had been promised a soloist's position within the choir, that noticed 64 of its members killed within the crash.

She stated: 'He was so joyful about his new job. He was promised a profession of a soloist, he had a uncommon and exquisite voice.

He was engaged to Yulia, who wrote: 'My love, my life, you're the finest on this world, I at all times instructed you this! Relaxation in peace.'  

As phrase of the crash unfold on Sunday, individuals positioned bouquets of flowers outdoors the ensemble's Moscow headquarters.

'All of us cherished this ensemble,' stated Moscow resident Mark Novikov. They're our brothers, our mates, our colleagues.'

Pavel Kogan, the director of Moscow State Educational Symphonic Orchestra, described the choir as 'a logo of the nation' and stated the lack of the artistes was 'a nightmare'. 

Ralina Gilmanova, 22, and her fiancé Mikhail, who had been members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, had been on the flight that crashed within the Black Sea

The younger couple, each within the choir, had been engaged final 12 months and resulting from marry 'quickly' 

Ekaterina Korzanov, a dancer within the Crimson Military Choir, died within the crash, alongside together with her companion

Daria Trofimova, one of many 64 individuals within the Crimson Military choir who was killed within the aircraft crash

Lilia Pyryeva, a member of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who died within the Christmas Day crash

Singer Alexander Shutko, 30, posted a haunting final picture minutes earlier than the doomed flight crashed within the Black Sea

Among the many useless within the crash was Yelizaveta Glinka, a physician and charity employee who serves on the Kremlin human rights council (pictured with Vladimir Putin)

Sixty-four members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the military's official musical group, and its conductor Valery Khalilov (pictured) had been on board the aircraft travelling to Syria

Channel One sound engineer Alexander Soidov (left) and cameraman Vadim Denisov (proper) had been on the flight that crashed early this morning

Channel One reporter Dmitry Runkov was additionally on the flight that crashed within the Black Sea

Zvezda TV Channel reporter Pavel Obukhov was one of many 9 journalists killed within the crash

A Russian navy aircraft crashed within the Black Sea because it made its option to Syria from Sochi airport (pictured) with 92 individuals onboard

9 journalists had been among the many passengers, with state-run channels Pervy Kanal, NTV and Zvezda saying they every had three workers onboard the flight. 

There have been additionally eight troopers, two civil servants, and an NGO member. 

There have been additionally eight crew members on board. 

Yelizaveta Glinka, a distinguished charity activist and humanitarian employee who served on the Kremlin human rights council, was among the many useless.

Mikhail Fedotov, who heads the council, stated Glinka was travelling to Syria to deliver remedy to a college hospital close to the airbase.

Anton Gubankov, the chief of the Directorate of Tradition of the Russian Protection Ministry, was additionally killed.   

THE RED ARMY CHOIR

The Alexandrov Ensemble is the official choir of the Russian navy, and it additionally features a band and a dancing firm.  

It was based in 1928 in the course of the Soviet period. It has for many years showcased its repertoire of famed Russian folksongs and non secular music on the worldwide stage.

Throughout the Chilly Warfare interval, when the us and the West had been locked in a nuclear standoff, the group was one of many uncommon Soviet ensembles to tour past the Japanese bloc, taking part in a distinguished position within the Kremlin's makes an attempt to painting itself to the remainder of the world. 

It takes its title from its first director, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, who wrote the music to the nationwide anthem of the Soviet Union. 

The ensemble consists of between 100 and 120 members relying on the kind of efficiency given. 

Since their efficiency on the airbase in Syria was going to be principally a cappella, solely the choir and a handful dancers had been aboard the aircraft, Russian media reported.

Rescuers had been looking out within the Black Sea close to shoreline of Sochi for wreckages of the doomed Russian Tu-154 aircraft

The aircraft belonged to the Russian Defence Ministry, in Sochi, Russia, December 25

Emergency companies had been seen looking out within the Black Sea after the flight on Christmas Day 

Search vessels had been seen out within the Black Sea earlier at the moment following the tragic aircraft crash 

A former member of the Alexandrov Ensemble lays a flower on the navy choir's constructing in Moscow after 64 members had been killed in a aircraft crash this morning 

A person bows his head on the Alexandrov Corridor at the moment following information of the aircraft crash in Sochi

A mourner covers her face close to the memorial outdoors the constructing of the Alexandrov Ensemble

Floral tributes in entrance of portraits of the Russian TV journalists who died within the aircraft crash

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated: 'This terrible tragedy has claimed the lives of people that had been energetic and had plans. Amongst these killed are journalists, servicemen and musicians of the famend Alexandrov ensemble. They flew to Syria with a really benevolent and peaceable mission.

'The circumstances of the incident will probably be totally investigated, and everybody affected by this tragedy will obtain the required help.' 

A Russian jet was beforehand shot down within the Latakia area in November 2015. 

In that incident, Su-24 was hit by air-to-air missiles fired by Turkish F-16s over the Syrian area.   

Vladimir Putin (pictured with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the moment) has declared a day of nationwide mourning tomorrow 

A legal probe has been launched to find out whether or not violations of air transportation security led to the crash

Ninety-two individuals had been on board the aircraft when it vanished from radar, together with 64 members of the well-known Alexandrov Ensemble navy band (pictured, performing in 2015)

Among the many 84 passengers on the aircraft had been 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the military's official musical group internationally referred to as the Crimson Military Choir

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