Recreation of the crash scenario concludes that aircraft was accidentally shot down (205 words)

Published: 11/8/2001

The official investigation of the crash of Sibir's Tu-154M on 4th October 2001 has concluded that the aircraft was shot down by a Ukrainian S-200 fired during military exercises. On 3rd November, Russian Security Council Chairman Vladimir Rushailo reported the results of the MAKS investigation to Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma. The investigation had recreated the crash scenario using an S-200 with an unmanned MiG-29 as a target to prove that the accident was possible. Comments made by Ukrainian Security Council Chairman Yevgen Marchuk, while accepting the conclusion of the MAKS investigation, have suggested the Ukrainians still intend to wait for a final review of the evidence by ICAO investigators due in late November. Ukraine initially denied any culpability for the accident and, while Marchuk has sought to diminish Ukrainian responsibility for the crash, with explanations including radio signals bounced of the surface of the sea, Rushailo has focussed on measures being developed between the Ukrainians and Russians to prevent such events in the future. Russia and Ukraine will also discuss compensation in the near future according to Oleg Dubina, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, under international law.

Article ID: 2894