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February 17, 2007

Pilot Error Blamed For August's Russian Air Crash

Relatives of passengers killed in the August tragedy (epa)

February 17, 2007 -- Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee has blamed pilot error for August's crash of a Pulkovo Airlines jet near the Ukrainian city of Donetsk.


All 170 passengers and crew onboard were killed.


The investigative committee's final report said the crew failed to follow procedures that would have prevented the plane from stalling, causing it to plummet to the ground. 


It said a junior pilot-in-training was at the controls at the time of the accident and that the more experienced captain failed to assist him.


The Tupolev-154 crashed while flying through bad weather, on a flight from the Russian Black Sea resort of Anapa to St. Petersburg.


(AFP, AP)


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