Pilot blamed for fatal crash
A Russian plane crash that killed 44 people, including an entire ice hockey team, was caused by pilot error, say investigators.
According to the BBC report, they found that the pilot accidentally activated the brakes during take-off and then tried to lift the Yak-42 too quickly, causing it to crash near the city of Yaroslavl.
Investigators also found the co-pilot had taken medicine prohibited for crew, which, they said, could have contributed to the crash, on September 7, which killed 36 players and members of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team and several crew members.
One player was pulled alive from the wreckage but died later in hospital from severe burns.
The company that operated the flight, Yak-Servis, was accused of ignoring safety rules and failing to provide adequate training to the crew.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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