The military searches wreckage of Tu-142 aircraft

09.11.2009
Servicemen of Mongohto, home airbase of wrecked Tu-142M3, search and pick up fragments of the aircraft. That was said by the source from Russian defensive ministry.

According to the source, wreckages are being washed ashore Tatarskiy Strait. Search operation conducted by ships, divers and aviation is being performed near Cape Sadinga and Cape Datta. Strong wind up to 15 mps and up to force-six sea storm is complicating factor.

Pacific Fleet's rescue vessel Alagez will arrive from Vladivostok to search area Tuesday noon, said Lt. Gen. Sergei Bainetov, the head of flight safety service and the chairman of ministry's board of inquiry. There are 20 divers on board capable to operate at depth down to 200 m, newest rescue system Kalmar, remotely controlled submersibles Tiger, Obzor and manned submersible AS-30. It is expected that efficiency of search works will significantly increase with the rescue vessel.

Pacific Fleet's aircraft Tu-142M3 performing training mission over Khabarovsky Krai on Nov 6, disappeared from radars at 02:19 pm Moscow time and fell down in Tatarskiy Strait north Silantyev Bay. There were 11 men aboard. Aircrafts of 11th army, helicopter, PF naval vessels, passenger ferries Sakhalin-9 and Sakhalin-10, harbor tugs are involved in the SR operation led by Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, Pacific Fleet Commander. Bodies of aircrew members have not been found yet. A portion of Tu-142M3 aircraft wreckage has been weighed up. It was previously said by the source from Far East Command that by the morning of Nov 8 search of onboard recorder was meaningless as data recorded could not be stored longer than 36 hours in sea water. However, Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, Pacific Fleet Commander confuted that information and added that search of blackbox is in progress.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Tu-142M3 (airwar.ru)