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In criminal case of Last year Tu-134A crash in Karelia charges brought against official of Rosaviatsia and two airport staff members

Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee continues investigation of criminal case over Tu-134A plane crash, happened near Petrozavodsk in June 2011 and resulted in death of 47 people.

Investigation has found causes of the crash. In addition to violations in the work of the flight crew during landing, it was found that meteorological support of the flight had been organized by the officials of autonomous institution of Karelian Republic “Airport Petrozavodsk” with violations of the rules for flight safety and operation of the aircraft, and certification of aviation meteorological station of the airport had been performed with violation of prescribed requirements.

The employees of the airport responsible for organization of meteorological support of the flights of civil aviation and the bodies organizing air traffic at the airfield Petrozavodsk (Besovets) – Vladimir Shkarupa and Vladimir Pronin are charged with crime under part 3 of article 263 of the RF Criminal Code (violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of air transport system). In addition, the head of radio technical flights support and aviation telecommunications department of the Federal Air transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) Eduard Voitovsky who had performed official functions on mandatory certification of the airport is charged with negligence (part 3 of article 293 of the RF Criminal Code).

According to investigators, Shkarupa and Pronin after termination of ZAO Airport Petrozavodsk (Close Corp.) in 2009 and foundation of autonomous institution of Karelian Republic “Airport Petrozavodsk” filed an application for amendments to the former certificate of conformity of meteorological support. In accordance with the law Voitovsky had to have organized a new inspection, but he made an unlawful decision on re-registration and signing of certificate without necessary inspection. Besides, Voitovsky in October 2010 decided to fix a different date of inspection control at “Airport Petrozavodsk” for August 2011. As a result the meteorological support of the flights of civil aviation and the bodies organizing air traffic at the airfield Petrozavodsk (Besovets) was performed using devices banned for use, without full set of tools for observation of visibility during take-off and landing. The accused Shkarupa and Pronin knew that.

Investigation of violations by the flight crew during landing at airfield Petrozavodsk (Besovets) and officials of ZAO Airline RusAir during organization of the flight is to be continued. In the near future investigators are going counsel their actions.