Another accident of the increasingly troubled Russian Air Force (170 words)

Published: 10/27/2000

On the 25th October 2000, an Il-18 belonging to the 8th Air Division of the Russian Air Force crashed near Batumi in Georgia, with the reported loss of 75 people including 11 crewmembers.

The aircraft was carrying military personnel and their families back from vacations and 1700 kg of freight including the mail for Russian troops in the Caucuses and crashed 20 km southeast of Batumi while losing altitude for its approach to the airport.

Investigation teams from the Ministry of Emergencies, the Russian Air Force and the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) are now working at the crash site with the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

From preliminary findings, according to the commander of the Russian Air Force Anatoly Kornukov, the Il-18 crashed into a mountain named Crying Mountain in difficult weather conditions and poor visibility. According to Kornukov the crew was experienced on the Il-18, and had flown together for some period of time.

Article ID: 2158