MOSCOW, October 18. /TASS/. The Investigative Committee has qualified Monday’s plane crash in Yeysk as a result of violations of rules of flights or preparations for them.

"The Main Military Investigative Directorate of Russia’s Investigative Committee continues the investigation of a criminal case opened under article 351 of the Criminal Code (violation of rules of flights or preparation for them) over the crash of a Sukhoi-34 plane in Yeysk," the IC’s press-service said in a news release.

The investigation has taken for analysis samples of fuel at the airdrome of departure, as well as the necessary documentation.

"Pilots who managed to eject themselves, as well as airfield personnel, are being questioned. Flight recorders have already been recovered from the crash site for examination," the IC said.

The plane’s technical malfunction is the main line of inquiry.

On the evening of October 17, a Su-34 bomber crashed in a residential area of Yeysk. According to the Defense Ministry, one of the engines caught fire during takeoff. The burning fuel spill spread to a nine-storey apartment building. As a result of the emergency, 13 people, including 3 children, died, and another 19 were taken to the hospital with various injuries.