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Russian plane crash: First black box located in sea | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The flight data recorder of the Russian military airliner which crashed in the Black Sea on Sunday has been located, Russian officials say. | |
It is the first "black box" to be found from the Tu-154 jet, which came down with the loss of all 92 passengers and crew. | |
The plane crashed soon after take-off from an airport near the city of Sochi. | The plane crashed soon after take-off from an airport near the city of Sochi. |
It was carrying artistes due to give a concert for Russian troops in Syria, along with journalists and military. | It was carrying artistes due to give a concert for Russian troops in Syria, along with journalists and military. |
The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi's Adler airport at 05:25 (02:25 GMT) on Sunday, heading for Latakia in Syria, the defence ministry said. | The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi's Adler airport at 05:25 (02:25 GMT) on Sunday, heading for Latakia in Syria, the defence ministry said. |
The flight had originated in Moscow and landed in Sochi for refuelling. | The flight had originated in Moscow and landed in Sochi for refuelling. |
It was carrying 64 members of the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble, as well as one of Russia's best-known humanitarian figures, Yelizaveta Glinka, known as Dr Liza, executive director of the Fair Aid charity. | It was carrying 64 members of the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble, as well as one of Russia's best-known humanitarian figures, Yelizaveta Glinka, known as Dr Liza, executive director of the Fair Aid charity. |
The Alexandrov Ensemble had been scheduled to perform a New Year's concert at Russia's Hmeimim air base near Latakia. | The Alexandrov Ensemble had been scheduled to perform a New Year's concert at Russia's Hmeimim air base near Latakia. |
Russia has been carrying out air strikes in support of Syrian government forces who are battling rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | Russia has been carrying out air strikes in support of Syrian government forces who are battling rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
Overloading? | Overloading? |
There have been few clues as to the cause of the crash although Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov has played down the possibility of a bomb attack. | There have been few clues as to the cause of the crash although Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov has played down the possibility of a bomb attack. |
He reiterated that investigators were looking into whether pilot error or a technical fault might have brought down the aircraft. | He reiterated that investigators were looking into whether pilot error or a technical fault might have brought down the aircraft. |
A source close to the investigation told Russia's Interfax news agency that the plane may have been overloaded. | A source close to the investigation told Russia's Interfax news agency that the plane may have been overloaded. |
"Witness accounts and other objective data obtained during the investigation suggest the plane was unable to gain height and for some reason - possibly overloading or a technical fault - crashed into the sea," the unnamed source said. | "Witness accounts and other objective data obtained during the investigation suggest the plane was unable to gain height and for some reason - possibly overloading or a technical fault - crashed into the sea," the unnamed source said. |
An audio recording played on Russian media and said to be of the final conversation between air traffic controllers and the plane reveals no sign of any difficulties. | An audio recording played on Russian media and said to be of the final conversation between air traffic controllers and the plane reveals no sign of any difficulties. |
Voices remain calm until the plane disappears and the controllers try in vain to re-establish contact. | Voices remain calm until the plane disappears and the controllers try in vain to re-establish contact. |
The Tupolev airliner involved in the crash was an old model no longer flown by air lines in Russia but still used by the military. | The Tupolev airliner involved in the crash was an old model no longer flown by air lines in Russia but still used by the military. |
Tupolev-154: Russian workhorse | Tupolev-154: Russian workhorse |