An-72 crash investigation well under way

Forensic experts have identified nine persons killed in the Antonov An-72 airplane crash occurred near the South Kazakhstan city of Shymkent.

A spokesman of the Kazakh Prosecutor's General Office made a corresponding statement at a media briefing on Friday. According to Nurdaulet Suindikov, relatives of the late officers identified Colonels Aitmanbetov, Dosybekov, Shukanov, and Vyacheslav Rakhman, Majors Ibrayev and Golubev, Staff Sergeant Konakbai, Sergeants Dolanbayeva and Vyazikov. Also, the official spokesman confirmed that the identification was under way.

The remains of bodies with significant injuries are scheduled to undergo a genomic examination in Astana.

Specialists promise to announce results in the near future.

As for the investigation into the plane crash disaster, Nurdaulet Suindikov reported that seven UkrSpetsExport specialists and experts from the Ukrainian aircraft repair plant already arrived in Kazakhstan from Ukraine to take part in the investigation of the causes of the Antonov An-72 crash.

In November this year, the aircraft underwent repairs in Ukraine, where it was actually produced at the Antonov Experimental Design Bureau.

So far, investigators have found out that on December 25, a 50 kilometre radius above the airport of Shymkent had severe icing at height from 300 meters up to 7,600 meters.

Thus, it is confirmed that the crashed AN-72 plane was descending to land in bad weather, said Nurdaulet Suindikov.

The investigation is continuing and experts are looking into every possible version of the incident, he added.

An interdepartmental commission is now operating at the scene to investigate aviation incidents.

A Shymkent garrison military prosecutor opened a criminal case under article "violation of flight regulations and training". Saturday 29 December 2012

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