Pilot's drunkenness blamed in Russian crash
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | 12:27 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
The disorientation of a drunk pilot caused a deadly plane crash in central Russia in 2008, Russian prosecutors said Monday.
The Boeing 737-500 operated by an Aeroflot subsidiary crashed in September 2008 while preparing to land in the city of Perm, about 1,200 kilometres east of Moscow. All 88 people on board were killed.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that Russian prosecutors had released a statement saying pilot Rodion Medvedev's consumption of alcohol put him in a "mentally unstable condition" that led to the crash.
The statement came after a 2009 report released by Russia's airline investigator, which said the pilot had an unspecified amount of alcohol in his body when the plane crashed but didn't explicitly blame the crash on pilot drunkenness.
Passengers killed on Flight 821 included citizens of the United States, France, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Latvia.
Aeroflot officials were not immediately available for comment.
with files from The Associated PressShare Tools
Top News Headlines
- Target set to alter Canadian retail landscape
- The buzz surrounding Target Corporation's move into Canada could quickly turn into a backlash if the U.S. retailing giant can't deliver quality goods at prices similar to what it charges south of the border, experts say. more »
- Graham James apologizes to sex-abuse victims
- Graham James, the former junior hockey coach and convicted sexual abuser whose victims included ex-NHLers Theoren Fleury and Sheldon Kennedy, has told a courtroom: "For my behaviour, I am deeply sorry.… Parents expected sons to be safe; not all were." more »
- Santorum, Romney spar in Republican debate
- Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum swapped accusations about spending and taxes Wednesday night in the 20th and possibly final debate of the roller-coaster race for the Republican presidential nomination. more »
- U.S. base in Afghanistan attacked over Qur'an burning
- Afghan police are firing shots into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who are trying to break into an American military base to vent their anger over the Qur'an burning incident. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- EU at stalemate on Canada's oilsands ranking
- European Union officials are at a stalemate on whether to classify Canada's oilsands crude as more harmful to the environment than other fuels — a proposal that Canada would fight. more »
- Santorum, Romney spar in Republican debate
- Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum swapped accusations about spending and taxes Wednesday night in the 20th and possibly final debate of the roller-coaster race for the Republican presidential nomination. more »
- Brian Stewart: A national security strategy for dangerous times
- With the world in so much turmoil, Ottawa needs to become more creative in assessing what really counts for Canada's security and economic well-being, writes Brian Stewart. more »
- SNC-Lavalin hired diplomat's spouse for Gadhafi project
- The husband of Canada's ambassador to Libya was hired by SNC Lavalin to work as part of the Montreal-based company's joint project with the Gadhafi regime, CBC News has learned. more »
Dispatches »
- A special court for post-trauma vets Feb. 22, 2012 4:48 PM In the U.S. there's special justice for post-trauma distressed war vets. For those who qualify, it's not easy time -- but it works better than jail. CBC's Jennifer Westaway met one vet who did nine tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His 10th is stateside, as a civilian.
Connect Newsroom Blog
Inside Homs, War over Oilsands & Rihanna and Chris Brown Feb. 22, 2012 8:56 PM Reports say another 50 people were killed in Syria today, 30 in the city of Homs, where a lot of the battle has been waged. Tonight we'll talk with one of the only journalists to report from the city under siege.
- Fire at Vancouver restaurant goes to 3 alarms
- 'Faster than light' measurement blamed on loose cable
- Graham James apologizes to sex-abuse victims
- Mountie who had sex with superior fights to keep job
- Alleged B.C. rave rape victim seeks witnesses
- Thief grabs $500K in jewelry in Vancouver
- Target set to alter Canadian retail landscape
- Santorum, Romney spar in Republican debate
- Online surveillance bill setup costs estimated at $80M
