Relatives of Tu-154 crash victims travel to Germany

145 relatives of Tu-154 crash victims are coming to Germany on Thursday, reported Bashkiria's ministry of civil defence and emergency situations.

According to the minister's officer on duty, a Tu-154 jet of Bashkir Airlines left Ufa at 6:20 Moscow time with victims' relatives, psychologists and interpreters on board.

The government of Bashkiria has undertaken all expenditures related to the trip. The authorities of Baden-Wuerttemberg, on their part, promised to receive all relatives and friends of the crash victims and to lend them all-round support. The German side also promised to settle all passport and visa problems "in no time" and organize medical and psychological aid.

"Everything is ready to accommodate the relatives," said a source in the chief police office of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The tragedy occurred on the night of July 2nd. Russia's Tu-154 jet belonging to Bashkir airlines and a Boeing-757 cargo jet belonging to the DHL company crashed into each other at an altitude of 11,000 meters. The crash killed all 12 crew and 57 passengers on board the Tu-154 and the 2 pilots on board the Boeing. Of the passengers, 52 were children headed for a summer vacation.