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Russian Plane’s ‘Black Box’ Found in Black Sea After Crash Russian Plane’s ‘Black Box’ Found in Black Sea After Crash
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The flight data recorder of the Russian military passenger plane that crashed into the Black Sea near the resort town of Sochi, killing all 92 passengers and crew members on board, has been recovered, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.MOSCOW — The flight data recorder of the Russian military passenger plane that crashed into the Black Sea near the resort town of Sochi, killing all 92 passengers and crew members on board, has been recovered, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The flight recorder was found about a mile from shore and was quickly transferred to Moscow, where investigators began working on decoding it, said Maxim Sokolov, the transportation minister.The flight recorder was found about a mile from shore and was quickly transferred to Moscow, where investigators began working on decoding it, said Maxim Sokolov, the transportation minister.
The Tupolev 154, carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a famed army choir and orchestra, crashed on Sunday shortly after a refueling stop in Sochi. Twelve bodies have been recovered, along with 156 body parts, according to the Defense Ministry statement, and all were sent to Moscow for identification. Relatives have identified just one victim, it said. Parts of the fuselage, engine and landing gear have also been found.The Tupolev 154, carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a famed army choir and orchestra, crashed on Sunday shortly after a refueling stop in Sochi. Twelve bodies have been recovered, along with 156 body parts, according to the Defense Ministry statement, and all were sent to Moscow for identification. Relatives have identified just one victim, it said. Parts of the fuselage, engine and landing gear have also been found.
The Russian authorities have not ruled out terrorism as the cause of the crash, but they have said it is unlikely. The data from the flight recorder could be crucial in determining why the plane went down.The Russian authorities have not ruled out terrorism as the cause of the crash, but they have said it is unlikely. The data from the flight recorder could be crucial in determining why the plane went down.
On Tuesday, Russian investigators said they had found several witnesses to the crash, including one who filmed the airplane taking off in Sochi and falling into the sea.On Tuesday, Russian investigators said they had found several witnesses to the crash, including one who filmed the airplane taking off in Sochi and falling into the sea.
The plane was taking the Alexandrov Ensemble, known for its renditions of classical Russian songs and folk tunes, to Syria to perform a concert for Russian troops there; nine journalists were also on board, as was Yelizaveta P. Glinka, a prominent philanthropist, who was carrying a shipment of medicine to a hospital in Syria.The plane was taking the Alexandrov Ensemble, known for its renditions of classical Russian songs and folk tunes, to Syria to perform a concert for Russian troops there; nine journalists were also on board, as was Yelizaveta P. Glinka, a prominent philanthropist, who was carrying a shipment of medicine to a hospital in Syria.
Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu ordered that 70 apartments be assigned to the Alexandrov Ensemble to help it recover.Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu ordered that 70 apartments be assigned to the Alexandrov Ensemble to help it recover.
“We should restore the collective as much as possible,” Mr. Shoigu said at a meeting on Tuesday. “We should conduct a contest, select the best, so they would continue the traditions that the Alexandrov Ensemble, the main ensemble of the armed forces, is famed for.”“We should restore the collective as much as possible,” Mr. Shoigu said at a meeting on Tuesday. “We should conduct a contest, select the best, so they would continue the traditions that the Alexandrov Ensemble, the main ensemble of the armed forces, is famed for.”
The Russian authorities said the Soviet-made airplane, built in 1983, was technically sound and had recently undergone repairs. The pilot was experienced, with 1,900 hours of flying time at the controls of that type of aircraft.The Russian authorities said the Soviet-made airplane, built in 1983, was technically sound and had recently undergone repairs. The pilot was experienced, with 1,900 hours of flying time at the controls of that type of aircraft.
The Tupolev 154, once a mainstay of the Soviet air transportation system, has been phased out by most civilian airlines, although it is still used by government agencies.The Tupolev 154, once a mainstay of the Soviet air transportation system, has been phased out by most civilian airlines, although it is still used by government agencies.
The Federal Security Service offered several theories to explain the crash: low-quality fuel, pilot error, foreign objects getting sucked into the engine or a technical malfunction. The investigators are analyzing samples taken from the fuel truck that filled the plane.The Federal Security Service offered several theories to explain the crash: low-quality fuel, pilot error, foreign objects getting sucked into the engine or a technical malfunction. The investigators are analyzing samples taken from the fuel truck that filled the plane.
In response to the crash on Sunday, Russia started an expansive search-and-recovery operation in the Black Sea involving 45 ships, 12 planes, five helicopters and 192 divers, the Defense Ministry said.In response to the crash on Sunday, Russia started an expansive search-and-recovery operation in the Black Sea involving 45 ships, 12 planes, five helicopters and 192 divers, the Defense Ministry said.
Mr. Putin ordered the deployment of military forces to Syria in September, citing the need to address the terrorist threat there before it reached Russian territory, but so far his main goal appears to have been to prop up the rule of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. President Vladimir V. Putin ordered the deployment of military forces to Syria in September, citing the need to address the terrorist threat there before it reached Russian territory, but so far his main goal appears to have been to prop up the rule of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.