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2016 Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 crash

From Alfawiki
Tupolev Tu-154B-2 RA-85572
Company typeMilitary aircraft
IndustryAviation
Founded1983
Headquarters
Sochi
,
Russia
ProductsTupolev Tu-154 aircraft


Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence On 25 December 2016, a Tupolev Tu-154 operated by the Russian Defence Ministry crashed into the Black Sea shortly after departing from Sochi International Airport, Russia. The flight was destined for Khmeimim Air Base in Syria amid the Russian military intervention in the Syrian conflict. All 92 individuals aboard perished, including 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble choir affiliated with the Russian Armed Forces. The aircraft had initially departed from Chkalovsky Airport and stopped in Sochi for refueling.

Aircraft

The plane involved was a Tupolev 154B-2 with tail number RA-85572 and manufacturer’s serial number 83A-572. This aircraft had been in service since 1983 and had accumulated roughly 7,000 flight hours prior to the accident.

Accident

Template:Location map The Tupolev took off at 05:27 local time (UTC+03:00) on 25 December 2016 from Sochi, a resort city on the Black Sea coast, where it had made a refueling stop. Shortly after departure, approximately two minutes into the flight, it crashed into the Black Sea about 1.5 kilometers from shore. Debris was located at depths between 50 and 70 meters beneath the water’s surface. Tragically, there were no survivors among the 92 people on board.

Passengers and crew

Out of the 92 individuals aboard, 64 were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the official choir representing the Russian Armed Forces, including its conductor, Valery Khalilov. The Ensemble members were en route from Moscow to the Russian military installation at Khmeimim near Latakia, Syria, where they were scheduled to perform during New Year festivities for Russian troops involved in the Syrian War.

Other passengers included Russian military personnel, humanitarian worker Elizaveta Glinka, the head of the Ministry of Defence's Culture Department, Anton Gubankov, nine journalists (three each from Channel One Russia, NTV, and Zvezda), as well as two civilian officials.

The flight crew comprised:

  • Captain: Roman Alexandrovich Volkov, aged 35
  • First Officer: Alexander Sergeevich Rovenskiy, aged 33
  • Flight Engineer: Valery Nikolaevich Parikmaherov, aged 29
  • Flight Engineer: Alexander Anatolievich Tregubov, aged 51
  • Navigator: Alexander Nikolaevich Petukhov, aged 49
  • Navigator: Andrei Vladimirovich Mamonov, aged 34
  • Flight Operator: Alexei Olegovich Sukhanov, aged 31
  • Flight Mechanic: Viktor Sergeevich Sushkov, aged 25

Investigation

File:RA-85572 crash site sketch en.jpg
Map of crash site released by the Russian Ministry of Defence

By 27 December, both the cockpit voice and flight data recorders had been identified and subsequently recovered, then transported to Moscow for detailed examination.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[2] On 28 December, rescuers retrieved the remains of 18 individuals from the sea.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The following day, a third recorder, serving as a backup for the CVR and FDR, was discovered; although damaged, it provided additional insights.[2]

A Russian official minimized the likelihood of terrorism as the crash cause, emphasizing mechanical failure or pilot error instead.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In response to the accident, all Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft within Russia were temporarily grounded.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Surveillance cameras along the Sochi coast reportedly captured a bright flash moments before the crash.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Eyewitnesses described the aircraft struggling to ascend, executing a 180-degree turn, descending rapidly, and ultimately impacting the sea.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

On 27 December, Russian investigators conveyed via the Interfax news agency that a malfunction involving the aircraft's flaps was suspected to have caused the crash. The Life.ru portal purportedly obtained audio of a pilot’s last words: "The flaps, damn it. Commander, we are going down." However, this information was not officially verified.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

The Flight Safety Service of Russia’s Ministry announced on 29 December that preliminary cockpit voice recorder data did not indicate any onboard explosion.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

On 16 January, the Interstate Aviation Committee, responsible for civil aviation accident investigations, confirmed its participation in the inquiry.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

During underwater search operations on 19 January, Interfax reported discovering wreckage of a Soviet-era Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston bomber that had crashed on 15 November 1942; this aircraft had been supplied under the Lend-Lease program.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

By 31 May 2017, Kommersant reported that all evidence pointed toward pilot Maj Roman Volkov experiencing somatogravic illusion. Flight data analysis suggested he became disoriented and disregarded instrument readings, mistakenly believing the plane was climbing too steeply. Fatigue was considered a contributing factor. Reports indicated he felt unwell before takeoff and struggled to identify the correct runway and taxi route; an escort vehicle was required to guide him to the appropriate runway.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

The criminal investigation was closed in December 2019 due to insufficient evidence of a crime (corpus delicti). All investigation documents remain classified.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Reactions

Following the directive of President Vladimir Putin, Russia held a national day of mourning on 26 December.[3][4] Additionally, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu decreed that the Moscow Military Music College be renamed in honor of Valery Khalilov.[5]

On 28 December, the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo released several cartoons satirizing the tragedy.[6] Reacting to this, a spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry stated: "If this so-called 'artistry' truly represents 'Western values', then those who embrace and endorse them are doomed".[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Sky10709817
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named tass.com
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