The Interstate Aviation Committee on Wednesday confirmed that pilot error was to blame for the An-28 crash in Kamchatka that killed 10 people in September.
Anton Artemenko, the head of the committee's transportation investigations department, said the pilots violated landing procedures, gave flight traffic controllers false information on the flight's execution and had alcohol in their blood, RIA-Novosti reported Wednesday. The committee did not find any technical malfunctions.
Medical examiners announced earlier that alcohol was found in the pilots' blood. The blood alcohol level of one pilot was low, while the other was categorized as a "medium level of inebriation," Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported.
Artemenko also cited the "low level of discipline of airline personnel and lack of control over the crew's pre-flight preparations" as factors contributing to the catastrophe. He said the criminal investigation opened by the Investigative Committee on charges of violating air traffic rules is ongoing. The charge carries a maximum sentence of? seven years in? prison.
The An-28 plane was carrying 14 people when it crashed on Sept. 12. Four people on board survived. The plane was later found by rescuers on? the side of? the 500-meter-high Pyatibratka Mountain near the? town of? Palana, to? the west of? the far eastern peninsula.
The management of the airline's flight personnel was fired over the incident at the request of the Federal Air Transportation Agency.
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.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.