Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS General Newswire
February 17, 2008 Sunday 5:12 PM MSK
Crew’s actions at Yerevan airport to be assessed after recorders
deciphered – Minsk
MINSK Feb 17
It will be possible to speak about the reasons behind the crash of a
Belavia aircraft at the Yerevan International Airport only after a
specially established commission completes it’s investigation, head
of the aviation department at the Belarusian Transport Ministry Vadim
Melnik told Interfax on Sunday.
"The ‘Black Boxes’ of the crashed plane are being deciphered in
Moscow. The situation will become clear after they are deciphered.
However, it would be wrong to make any conclusion about reasons
behind the crash before that," Melnik said.
Data from the recorders "will be compared to official documents that
regulate the use of the this type of the aircraft. Conclusions will
be made on the basis of summarized data," he said.
"The commission will assess the actions of the crew and name the
reasons behind the crash," Melnik said.
Earlier reports said that a CRJ-100LR (BOMBARDIER) plane of the
Belavia airline lurched left after take-off, then turned upside down
and crashed on Thursday.
There were 18 passengers – citizens of Belarus, Armenia, Georgia,
Russia and Ukraine – and three crew aboard. No one as killed, but
seven people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital in
Yerevan.
A criminal investigation was launched on charges of violating flight
safety regulations and rules of operating a plane, the Belarusian
Transport Prosecutor’s Office said.