Ukraine completes investigations of two big aircrashes

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry completed internal investigation of the crash of the Russian airplane Tupolev Tu-154, which was shot down on October 4th, 2001 by a missile above the Black Sea in the course of the Ukrainian Air Defence exercises. This was disclosed in the course of the press-conference in Kiev by Ukrainian Defence Minister Vladimir Shkidchenko.

According to him, the investigation conducted by the Defence Ministry revealed that the Tupolev Tu-154 crash occurred due to tragic circumstances.

"The technical examination showed that if the missile was launched one minute earlier or later the tragic accident would not have happened", the Minister said.

Another investigation concerning the tragic accident at the air show in Lvov has been completed. This summer Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashed into a crowd of spectators.

Speaking about the tragedy at the air show in Lvov, the Minister said, that "the accident occurred due to the violation of the task of the airplane crew and several piloting mistakes". According to him, a number of high officials of the Air Forces Headquarters did some miscalculations, while planning the air show in Lvov". As a result of the investigation of the air crash in Lvov, there had been signed a number of orders, concerning the prevention of similar tragedies, as well as a number of officers were fired and reduced to lower ranks, including those working at the Headquarters, the Defence Minister stressed.

The cases have been already sent for trials.