In the worst sports-related disaster in decades, one of Russia's best ice hockey teams, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, was decimated Wednesday in a plane crash that killed at least 43 people. The news feed below tracks the aftermath of the tragedy. (Note: All times are GMT +3.)
LINKS
A video of Lokomotiv's last match, a Sept. 3 friendly against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, is available here.
A full roster of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl at the time of the crash is available here.
A CBC Sports article about former NHL coaches and players who died in the crash.
4:30 p.m.
A memorial service for defenseman Marat Kalimulin will be held today in Tolyatti. (source)4:06 p.m.
Investigators have ruled out the following explanations for the Yak-42 crash: 1) The runway was too short. 2) The airplane's stabilizer was not properly during takeoff. (source)3:31 p.m.
The bodies of 40 crash victims have been identified. Genetic analysis will be used to identify the remaining three. The bodies of players Karel Rachunek, Jan Marek and Josef Vasicek will be sent to their native Czech Republic. The body of Alexander Vyukhin has been sent to Moscow. Crew member Nadezhda Maksumova will be buried in Chelyabinsk. (source)3:07 p.m.
The Yak-42 was not going fast enough when it took off, said Valery Okulov, deputy head of the Transportation Ministry, RIA-Novosti reported.2:45 p.m.
Investigators are looking into human error and technical failure as possible causes of the crash, said Oleg Lipatov, the head of the Investigative Committee in Yaroslavl, Interfax reported.2:40 p.m.
Crews have finished gathering fragments of the Yak-42 airplane from the Tunoshonka River, RIA-Novosti reported.12:40 p.m.
Lokomotiv forward Alexander Galimov suffered burns over 90 percent of his body and requires a trachea transplant. Crew member Alexander Sizov suffered burns over 15 percent of his body, as well as fractures to his hips, skull and ribs. (source)11:53 a.m.
The Yak-42's engines were working until impact, the Interstate Aviation Committee said, Interfax reported. This may rule out the theory that the airplane suffered engine failure. Investigators are analyzing the Yak-42's black boxes. (source)Friday, Sept. 9 (above)
5:13 p.m.
Locomotiv forward Alexander Galimov's condition is stable, said Valery Kubyshkin, director of the Vishnyevsky Surgical Institute. (source)4:58 p.m.
The number of identified bodies has risen to 26. Forty-three were killed in the crash. (source)4:31 p.m.
About 200 hockey fans have gathered in heavy rain in the center of Yaroslavl to pay tribute to the Lokomotiv players killed in Wednesday's plane crash. (source)4:31 p.m.
The two crash survivors, both in critical condition, have arrived in Moscow for medical care. Lokomotiv forward Alexander Galimov will be treated at the Vishnyevsky Surgical Institute. Crew member Alexander Sizov will be treated at the Sklifosovsky Medical Institute. (source)
3:20 p.m.
Relatives of foreign players killed in the crash will receive free Russian visas. (source)
2:48 p.m.
Both black boxes have been recovered, Interfax reported. One was discovered in the river, the other in a part of the fuselage that was sticking out of the water. (source)
2:31 p.m.
The two crash survivors — hockey player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov — both in critical condition, are on their way to Moscow for further treatment. (source)
1:39 p.m.
The operator of the Yak-42 jet, Yak Service, may be liquidated, a Transportation Ministry source said, RIA-Novosti reported. (source)
1:02 p.m.
See photographs of fans mourning the loss of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. (source)
1:00 p.m.
Twenty bodies have been identified, an Emergency Situations Ministry spokesperson said. Forty-three died in the crash, and the two survivors are in critical condition. (source)
12:47 p.m.
The two crash survivors — hockey player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov — will be transfered to Moscow hospitals, a Health and Social Development Ministry spokeswoman said. She said they remained in critical condition. (source)
12:34 p.m.
Kontinental Hockey League games will likely resume on Tuesday, league president Alexander Medvedev said. All matches through Sunday have been canceled. The new Lokomotiv roster will consist of volunteers from other clubs. (source)
12:12 p.m.
Interfax has posted a video from the crash site.
12:01 p.m.
President Dmitry Medvedev calls for a reduction in the number of air carriers in Russia, as well as "radical" change in the country's civil aviation sector. (source)
11:53 a.m.
The two crash survivors — hockey player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov — remain in critical condition (source). RIA-Novosti has posted a video of the two being wheeled into a Yaroslavl hospital (warning: graphic).
11:49 a.m.
Kontinental Hockey League games will not resume before Monday, and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will participate, league vice president Vladimir Shalayev said. He said former Lokomotiv players have expressed interest in playing for the devastated team. (source)
11:33 a.m.
On Thursday morning, President Dmitry Medvedev and Yaroslavl region Governor Sergei Bakhrukov visited the site of the crash near the village of Tunoshna, RIA-Novosti reported.
11:32 a.m.
One of two black boxes recovered, turned over to analysts. (source)
11:01 a.m.
Three days of mourning declared in Yaroslav region. (source)
10:41 a.m.
The crew of the Yak-42 airplane did not inform airport dispatchers of any technical problems prior to the crash, Interfax reported.
Thursday, Sept. 8 (above)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
