Terror fears over Russia's plane crash
(Vatican Radio) Russia's government has played down
suggestions that a terror attack might have downed a Syria-bound Russian plane,
killing all 92 people on board, amid concerns among experts that this
possibility is being overlooked. The Kremlin made the comments after a day of
mourning for the victims, including most members of Russia's world famous
military choir.
"Let us honour the memory of the victims with minute of
silence," said Russian Prime Minister Dmitrii Medvedev as he opened a
government session. Across the nation people mourned the people who died when
the Tupolev-154 plane crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday.
It happened just two minutes after taking off in good
weather from the city of Sochi. The plane was carrying members of the
Alexandrov Ensemble, often referred to as the Red Army Choir, to a New Year's
concert at a Russian military base in Syria. Others included journalists and a
doctor who was famous for her work in war zones.
However Russia's Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov has tried
to play down suggestions that the crash might have been caused by a bomb
planted on board or a portable air defense missile. "According to our
information, at the current moment the main theories of the crash don't include
terror attack. That is why we are considering that the plane crash might have
been caused whether by technical condition of the plane or piloting
error," he said.
"I would like to stress that the cause of the crash
will be investigated by investigative authorities and technical commission of
Defence Ministry. Our commission is dealing with elimination of consequences of
the crash and work with victims' relatives."
QUESTIONS REMAIN
But some aviation experts say the crew's failure to
communicate any technical problem and a large area over which fragments of the
plane were scattered point at a possible explosion on board. In October 2015, a
Russian passenger plane was brought down by a bomb over Egypt, killing all 224
people aboard in an attack claimed by a local affiliate of the Islamic State
group.
In August 2004, two Russian planes were blown up on the same
day by suicide bombers, killing 89 people, for which a Chechen warlord claimed
responsibility.
Evidence of a bombing of the Syria-bound military flight
would badly embarrass the Kremlin, highlighting Russia's extreme vulnerability
to attacks even as it boasts its success in Syria after Aleppo fell into
President Bashar Assad's hands.
At the same time a technical failure would underscore
concern over Russia's notorious air safety record.
As Russia now searches for answers, about 3,500 people, 43
ships and 182 divers have been sweeping a vast crash site for bodies of the
victims and debris. Dozens of drones and several submersibles also have been
involved in the search. Rescue teams so far have recovered several bodies and
numerous body fragments, which have been flown to Moscow for identification.
SOLOIST MOURNING
Whatever will be discovered, the pain will remain for people
including Vadim Ananyev, a soloist of the world famous Alexandrov Ensemble, who
stayed home with his family.
He said he lost friends and colleagues including five
soloists adding that he had known them people for 30 years, as well as their
wives and children. He added: "I feel terrible for the children and for
all that I have lost. We were loved all over the world, never mind the
political situation."
His pain was shared by Pope Francis.
The pope led thousands of in silent prayer for the plane
crash victims and noted that the Russian army choir had performed in 2004 at
the Vatican.
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