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Russia Saratov crash: Ice on sensors 'may be cause' Russia Saratov crash: Ice on sensors 'may be cause'
(35 minutes later)
Speed sensors that were iced over may have caused a passenger jet to crash near Moscow, killing all 71 people on board, investigators say.Speed sensors that were iced over may have caused a passenger jet to crash near Moscow, killing all 71 people on board, investigators say.
The faulty instruments could have given the pilots wrong speed data, Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee said.The faulty instruments could have given the pilots wrong speed data, Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee said.
The Saratov Airlines jet went down minutes after take-off from Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Sunday.The Saratov Airlines jet went down minutes after take-off from Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Sunday.
No emergency call came from the plane. The Antonov An-148 was en route to Orsk in the Ural mountains. More than 1,400 body parts and hundreds of plane fragments have been recovered from the crash site.
What are the investigators saying?What are the investigators saying?
A preliminary analysis of the flight recorder indicated problems two and a half minutes after the plane took off, at an altitude of around 1,300m (4,265ft), the committee said. A preliminary analysis of the on-board flight recorder indicated the plane had problems two-and-a-half minutes after it took off, at an altitude of around 1,300m (4,265ft).
At that moment, the instruments began displaying different speed readings. The pilots turned off the autopilot and the plane began to lose speed until it crashed. The instruments began displaying different speed readings, probably because of iced speed sensors while their heating systems were shut off, the committee said.
When the crew detected the issue, they switched off the plane's autopilot. They eventually took the plane into a dive at 30-35 degrees.
Russian media reports said the plane's captain had rejected a de-icing treatment on the plane before takeoff. The procedure is optional and the crew's decision is based mainly on the weather conditions.
Iced-over speed sensors, known as Pitots, were cited as the likely reason for a 2009 Air France plane crash, which killed 228 people.Iced-over speed sensors, known as Pitots, were cited as the likely reason for a 2009 Air France plane crash, which killed 228 people.
What do we know so far?What do we know so far?
Contact was lost at 14:27 (11:27 GMT), minutes after the plane took off. The Antonov An-148 was en route to Orsk in the Ural mountains and lost contact at 14:27 (11:27 GMT).
The plane crashed near the village of Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow. It crashed near the village of Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow. It did not send any emergency call.
Russia's Investigative Committee said the plane was intact when it crashed and that the explosion happened on impact. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 said it then descended at the rate of 1,000m (3,300ft) per minute.Russia's Investigative Committee said the plane was intact when it crashed and that the explosion happened on impact. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 said it then descended at the rate of 1,000m (3,300ft) per minute.
Wreckage and body parts are strewn over a large area - about 30 hectares (74 acres) - and more than 700 people are involved in the search operation, struggling through deep snow.Wreckage and body parts are strewn over a large area - about 30 hectares (74 acres) - and more than 700 people are involved in the search operation, struggling through deep snow.
The emergencies ministry is collecting DNA samples from victims' relatives as part of the identification process of the 65 passengers, including a child and two teenagers, and six crew.The emergencies ministry is collecting DNA samples from victims' relatives as part of the identification process of the 65 passengers, including a child and two teenagers, and six crew.
The jet, which was reportedly seven years old, was being flown by an experienced pilot who had 5,000 hours of flying time.The jet, which was reportedly seven years old, was being flown by an experienced pilot who had 5,000 hours of flying time.
A criminal inquiry has been launched.