Russian PM condoles with relatives of aircrash victims

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, currently on a visit to France, has expressed condolences to the near and dear of those killed in the Tu-154 aircrash over southern Germany, said Head of the Government's Information and Press Department Alexei Gorshkov.

Kasyanov emphasised that the Russian side expected a detailed report about the reasons of the catastrophe.

A group of Russian experts, headed by Deputy Transport Minister Pavel Rozhkov has left Moscow for Germany to participate in the work of the commission probing into the reasons of the tragedy. The commission includes representatives of the State Civil Aviation Service and the Interstate Aviation Committee.

According to the transport ministry, first class pilot Alexander Gross, who piloted the Russian aircraft, had flown international flights since 1991, and his flying record amounted to 4,000 hours, with 1,600 hours of them as the crew leader. Last time he passed his English exam in winter 2001.

The Tu-154 aircraft, which ran into the cargo Boeing was commissioned in 1995. It was fitted out with the necessary equipment complying with international standards.