Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee within the criminal case over Yak-42 plane crash in Yaroslavl Region killing 44 people including a starting lineup of Lokomotiv hockey team has brought charges against former Deputy GM on flight organization in YAK SERVIS airlines Vadim Timofeyev. He is accused of a crime under part 3 of article 263 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code (violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of air transport).
Investigators have found out the causes of the plane crash in September 2011. Besides the violation in the work of pilots during take-off from the airport of Tunoshna in Yaroslavl Region, it was found that the crew was allowed to the flight by employees of YAK SERVIS with grave violations of rules of safe operation of air transport.
According to investigators, Timofeyev being by virtue of his official duties and position a person obliged to observe rules for safe traffic and operation of air transport was in charge of flight organization, qualification of crew members, rising their professional level, organization of trainings and checks of pilots. In addition, it was Timofeyev who had the right to allow the crews to fly and to suspend them in case of improper qualification. Having studied all circumstances and facts which had preceded the crash investigators found that Timofeyev allowed the crew to fly illegally, violating the rules for safe operation of air transport, and did not have the right to perform independent flights at the moment of the crash. Namely, the flight permit for the captain was issued by Timofeyev based on forged documents, the second pilot at the time had not finished his re-qualification course on Yak-42 planes and was not qualified to fly them. Timofeyev had not supervised professional training of pilots, had recalled them from training sites regularly, and in spite of the unfinished course had let them fly, that means, that Timofeyev was well aware that the crew had not finished their flying course and consequently lacked skills to fly safely.
The situation was the same on 7 September 2011. In the period between 5 and 17 September 2011 the crew had to have taken course on correct distribution of duties among crew members. In such circumstances Timofeyev did not have the right to entrust the crew with transportation of passengers and if Timofeyev had honestly fulfilled his duties there might not have been the tragedy which killed 44 people.
By now the investigators have interrogated more than 200 people as witnesses, run more than 120 forensic examinations. There are about 90 volumes in the case.
In the near future criminal case against Timofeyev will be severed into a separate lawsuit, legal treatment will be given to the actions of the crew members.
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