Air safety in Russia is back in the spotlight after the crash of a Russian-built jet that killed 44 people, including members of Russia’s major league ice hockey team, Lokomotiv
The 18-year-old Yak-42 passenger jet took off on Wednesday from Yaroslavl’s city airport some 250kms northeast of Moscow, crashing soon after take-off after hitting a radio mast, according to official reports.
All 11 foreign citizens on board the plane were killed, including the ice hockey team’s Canadian coach.
Two people, including one player, survived with serious injuries after the disaster.
The chartered plane was operated by the Yak-Service company, Russia’s aviation authorities said. They said the jet entered service in 1993 and had a certificate of airworthiness valid until 1 October 2011.
Russia has had a disastrous few months in the air and on the water. Two accidents involving Tu-134 and An-24 jets this summer that killed a total of 54 people prompted President Dmitry Medvedev to call for older aircraft to be retired by January 1.
Russia also suffered a Volga River boat disaster that killed 122 people who were on a pleasure cruise.
