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Killed Lokomotiv ice hockey teamâ€™s families demand new probe into air crash

11 January 2012 04:29 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Relatives of Russiaâ€™s Lokomotiv ice hockey team killed in an air crash in September 2011 plan to address the Investigative Committee and Defense Ministry demanding a new probe into the tragedy, the Izvestiya daily reported on Wednesday, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

The Yak-42, chartered by Yaroslavl-based Lokomotiv hockey team, crashed just after takeoff on September 7, 2011, as the team was heading to Minsk for their season opener against Dinamo Minsk. Forty-four people were killed including a slew of former NHL stars. Only a flight engineer survived.

In their letter, the families of those killed in the crash said the conclusion by Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) experts blaming the pilots is biased and demanded that new experts from the Defense Ministry take part in a new investigation.

A MAK report in early November 2011 said the plane crashed due to poor coordination between the crew and lack of training. It also said a sedative drug was found in the blood of one of the pilots.