Rescuers started to lift engines of crashed Tu-142

28.12.2009 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Tu-142 (vesti.ru)

On Monday diving team started to lift two aircraft engines of PF aircraft Tu-142 wrecked on Nov 6 in Tatarskiy Strait, said to RIA Novosti Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, the head of PF Information and Public Relations Service.

Pacific Fleet's aircraft Tu-142M3 performing training mission on Nov 6 fell down in Tatarskiy Strait which separates Sakhalin Island from the continent. There were 11 men on board the aircraft. The search and rescue operation began right after communication with pilots was lost.

Investigation board of Ministry of Defense considers three main causes of the accident: equipment failure, human factor and bird strike. The criminal case was initiated under clause 351 of RF Criminal Code ("Violation of flight rules and pre-flight instructions").

"Fleet divers have carried out works and prepared two engines of ASW aircraft to be lifted by seaborne machinery. Next in turn are the works on lifting large parts of fuselage and wings", specified the interviewee.

According to him, deep-sea remotely controlled submersibles, crews of bathyscaph and two rescue vessels are engaged in this SR operation.

"The weather in Tatarskiy Strait is favorable to the search operation. However, drift ice moves toward search area, although does not hinder the operation so far", specified Mr. Martov.

It was previously reported that rescuers found large wrecks on the sea bottom. Among them is fuselage, engines and other parts. It is not improbable that rescuers will find blackboxes and bodies of died aircrew.

SR equipment detected over thousand unidentified objects at the search area where fishery and active shipping are carried out for many years. Aircraft wreckage may also be found among them. Rescuers will study every object to find fragments of the crashed aircraft. There are ship wreckages, big metal pieces, tires used as puddening. All detected objects should be studied at the sea bottom and ashore.

Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, PF Commander personally controls social welfare of families of aircrew died at air disaster.

Pacific Fleet will support all wives of the crew failed to return home with survivor's benefits. They will probably obtain comfortable dwelling in the cities they want to live in.

Vice Admiral Sidenko visited Kamenny Ruchei base in Khabarovsky Krai where the aircrew served. The commander met with their relatives and assured that PF Command would apply every effort to solve their social problems. PF Commander noted that a monument would be fixed up at Kamenny Ruchei base in remembrance of one of the best PF aircrews.