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Russian experts to participate in all stages of A321 crash investigation — minister

A special technical commission set up by Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority is carrying out a technical probe into the Airbus A321 crash
 Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov at the crash site Maxim Grigoryev/TASS
Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov at the crash site
© Maxim Grigoryev/TASS

MOSCOW, November 3 /TASS/. Russian experts will participate in all stages of investigation into the A321 air crash in Egypt, including the reading of the flight recorders and ground tape-recorders, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said on Tuesday.

"I would like to emphasize that our experts will have to take part in all aspects of the investigation, including the reading of the flight recorders and ground tape-recorders, and analyze all the existing data," the transport minister said.

"They should gain access to all the material evidence and make all the necessary comments and statements concerning the investigation; take part in the inspection of the aircraft’s parts and units; participate in the trials and modelling of the accident as well as to obtain evidence from witnesses," Sokolov stressed.

He added that the Russian experts, for their part, would provide a special investigation commission set up by Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority with all the necessary information concerning Kogalymavia’s operation; the operational status of the Airbus A321 aircraft and the crew training.

A special technical commission set up by Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority is carrying out a technical probe into the Airbus A321 incident in accordance with Appendix 13 of the Chicago Convention of International Civil Aviation.

Representatives of the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya); the Kogalymavia air company; the State Corporation for the Organization of Air Transport (GK OrVD) and the Inter-State Aviation Committee got down to work on November 1. They have been vested with all the rights and will participate in every stage of investigation along with their Egyptian partners.

"Our experts have already inspected the crash site and studied the condition of the flight recorders. They had a chance to preliminary study the crash-related materials at the air traffic control center in Cairo," Sokolov said.

The Russian transport minister added that all aspects of the criminal investigation would form a separate criminal case.