A Syria-bound Russian military plane crashed into the Black Sea yesterday, with no sign of survivors among the 92 on board, including Red Army Choir members traveling to celebrate New Year with troops.
The TU-54 crashed shortly after taking off from the southern city of Adler where it had been refueling.The aircraft was travelling from Adler/Sochi Airport (AER/URSS) to Latakia-Khmeimim Air Base (LTK/OSLK).
It disappeared from radar just two minutes after it took off at 5:25 a.m. (0225 GMT).
The ministry told agencies there was no sign of any survivors at the crash site and that 10 bodies had been recovered off the coast of the resort city of Sochi, as authorities pledged to dispatch an additional 100 divers to aid in the search.
"Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defense ministry were found 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 meters (165 to 230 feet)," the ministry said.
Among the plane's 84 passengers were Russian servicemen as well as 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the army's official musical group also known as the Red Army Choir, and its conductor Valery Khalilov.
They were headed to Syria to participate in New Year celebrations at the air base.
There were also nine journalists and eight crew onboard.
Aircraft Information
Aircraft Tupolev 154B-2
Registration RA-85572
Serial Number CN 83A-572
Aircraft History
| February 1983 | CCCP-85572 | Soviet Air Force | First Flight |
| 28 April 1994 | RA-85572 | Russian Air Force | New Registration |
| 1 Nov. 1994 | RA-85572 | Korsar | Leased |
| 6 June 1997 | RA-85572 | Iron Dragonfly | Leased |
| 18 June 1997 | RA-85572 | Russian Air Force | Returned to RAF |
| 19 Jan 2004 | RA-85572 | Aeroflot | Leased |
| 1 March 2005 | RA-85572 | Russian Air Force | Returned to RAF |
My thoughts and prayers go out to the immediate family and friends and of course everyone in the Russian Air Force.
GOD BLESS
No comments:
Post a Comment