Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russian Crash Investigators Find Cockpit Voice Recorder


Rescue workers and firefighters work at the site of the Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737 crash at Kazan's airport on November 17.
Rescue workers and firefighters work at the site of the Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737 crash at Kazan's airport on November 17.
Investigators probing the fatal crash of a Tatarstan Airlines plane say they have found a tape of cockpit conversations.

The tape was located by search teams at the crash site in Kazan on November 20. It had been missing from its container, which was found earlier.

The plane's flight-data recordings were also found.

Investigators have said preliminary analysis of flight data suggests pilot error may have caused the Boeing 737 to crash on November 17, killing all 50 people onboard.

The investigators said the crew had failed to make a proper landing on their first attempt.

When they made a second attempt, the plane somehow lost speed at a low altitude, resulting in a near-vertical plunge.

Investigators said all engines and other systems were working fine until the plane hit the ground.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and AP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG