Case of Tu-154 explosion over the Black Sea demand to renew

Relatives of the lost passengers of the Tu-154 plane which has blown up over the Black Sea in 2001, demanded to renew investigation.

Let’s remind, writes EurAsia Daily that on October 4, 2001 near Sochi suffered accident the liner of the Siberia airline following from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk. All were lost being onboard. From 78 victims – 74 citizens of Russia and 4 – Israel.

11 000 meters flying at height the plane failed to the Black Sea in 200 km South to the west of Sochi. The Ukrainian army carried out rocket firing practice to the same time on the cape Opuk in the Crimea.

According to the version of the Russian inspectors, rocket let out during doctrines from the S-200 surface-to-air missile system deviated a target and struck the civil plane. However because of depths to 2000 meters rescuers could not find «black boxes» in a place of falling of fragments of the plane and took only separate parts of Tu-154.

Conclusions made on the basis of their inspection and record of an exit of crew in external communication with shout« … where got …» After that business transferred to the Ukrainian party. It paid to relatives of lost about 8 million dollars, but did not recognize the fault.

The top management of Ukraine hinted that aboard could occur and act of terrorism. As a result in 2004 the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Ukraine closed business because of absence, in her opinion, objective data which authentically would confirm that the plane was brought down by the Ukrainian S-200 rocket. In 2012 the Ukrainian courts finally rejected claims and Siberia airline appeals.

Now relatives of the lost passengers addressed to the president of Russia and in the State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation that brought criminal case and made investigation anew. They consider that responsible for the tragedy should be established and punished.

The correspondent of EADaily met the Ukrainian military man who knew that the Ukrainian rocket will bring down the civil liner to the tragedy.

… Our interlocutor served on a plateau Ah-Petri over Yalta where the radio engineering battalion of armies of air defense which carries out control of flying objects over the Black Sea is located. On October 4, in day of the tragedy, our interlocutor who wished to keep the anonymity, was on fighting watch and became the mute witness of the tragedy.

– As doctrines get under the first category of fighting capacity, watch was taken up on October 4 by complete fighting calculation from 30 people, – the military man remembers. – Oborona radar stations involved in control over air space and mobile radiovysotomer PRV-13.

Also «objective control» – video and photofixing was included. That day we worked in a verification regime of flying objects at distance of 300 km. If to consider that from us to Turkey of 270 km, we "saw" the sky over all central part of the Black Sea and supervised all flying objects in a visibility range.

– And what occurred during firing practice?

– During doctrines there were many start-up of rockets and everything went according to the plan while one of them did not deviate the purpose. Headed for other object which was during that moment almost on one line with an educational target.

– You knew, what is object?

– Certainly, we supervise the sky and we have all information on aircrafts which fly by in a zone of our work. The Ukrainian air space in the area and for the period of firing practice was closed, and in others at that time we saw to 15 civil vessels.

The rocket flied to the passenger plane following on a route Tel Aviv – Novosibirsk. We instantly rechecked this information at dispatchers of the Simferopol airport. Doubts was not.

– And how you reacted?

– As well as should. Within 15 seconds from the moment of detection of state of emergency reported on the commander and continued supervision.

– You knew, what the rocket собъет the plane?

– Understood. On monitors we saw that the rocket flies at a being crossed course with plane. However we only observe and we transfer data to command. It makes the further decision.

– Passed time meanwhile how you found rocket leaving from the purpose and how it struck the plane much?

– From start-up before hit passed about two minutes. On monitors we simply fixed that points "rocket" and "plane" met in one place and disappeared from a radar. In total!

– Two minutes. You and those who was with you on fighting watch, somehow reacted to the events, tried to make something?

– We could make nothing. In this tragedy we were observers. If you about emotions, we military and us learned 4 years how to endure stressful situations. While the rocket flew up someone exclaimed: «П … c to the plane!» On they be all.

We continued to do the work, and worried already then, after watch when learned all circumstances. But I can speak about them only according to those who was at this time on the range on the cape Opuk.

On the plane got from the S-200 rocket surface-to-air missile system which was on arms from Soviet period. If to speak simply, its main components – the launcher, a cabin of management and the radar подсвета the purposes which accompanies the rocket and allows to operate it.

It consists of two sets – "computers". They work at the same time, but one – as support. And one set during dough failed. On it reported on general Dyakov who was responsible firing. He told that second "computer" works, therefore firing from this complex will take place.

After rocket firing out of operation there was also second "computer". Therefore from the earth already nothing could be made and the rocket itself defined the purpose. A homing head, as well as it is necessary, chose larger purpose.

It is clear that she "preferred" to a 16-meter training aircraft 50-meter Tu-154. The only thing, nobody could understand, how the rocket took the purpose and struck it further the characteristics put in it.

– In any case, your radio engineering battalion fixed, what became the reason of crash of the plane?

– By order of the photo and a fixing video film of «objective control» at once brought on the range Opuk. There handed over it to command which destroyed them on a place. Poured gasoline and burned in a flank. There was a magazine on duty. But it, as well as it is necessary, stored year, and then also destroyed.

– In army punished nobody?

– There was that all know. Minister of Defence Alexander Kuzmuk retired, dismissed the commander-in-chief of air defense Tkachev and general Dyakov. The ex-commander-in-chief in a year to us even came. However, as the civilian. Spoke, he headed the company which insures all military property.