Investigators examining crashed plane's black box
Russian air accident investigators began examining flight recorder boxes from a Yak 42 plane that crashed this week, killing 43 people and devastating a top ice hockey team.
The magnetic tapes holding the flight information in the data recorders were transported to Moscow on September 8. Specialists believe that they can get information on the crash from the second box as the first one fell from the altitude of 200 meters and might contain no information.
Investigators have not yet been able to pinpoint what caused the Yak-42 jet to crash Wednesday into the banks of the Volga River shortly after takeoff from Yaroslavl, 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Moscow.
Commersant writes that aviation officials will be able to determine the cause of the accident only after deciphering the black box.
Aviation authorities are now running checks on all the approximately 60 Yak-42 jets currently in service in Russia.
The crash killed 43 people, including 36 players, coaches and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team, many of whom were European national team and former NHL players. It was one of the worst aviation disasters ever in sports, shocking Russia and the world of hockey.
The two crash survivors - player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov - were still in critical condition Friday after being transferred to Moscow for treatment. Hospital officials said Galimov has suffered burns to 90 percent of his body and has been placed in a medicated coma to help ease the healing process.
