Freak gust of wind blamed after 62 killed in Russian jet crash

FREAK winds were blamed last night for causing a Dubai-based airliner to nosedive into the ground in Russia in a disaster that claimed 62 lives.

FlyDubai flight 981 from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don crashed and exploded while trying to land in strong winds at the southern Russian city early yesterday morning. All 55 passengers, from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and India, were killed along with seven crew members in a blast that scattered frag- ments of the aircraft across the airport.

“Everyone at FlyDubai is in deep shock and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those involved,” said Ghaith al-Ghaith, the carrier’s chief executive, at a press conference in Dubai.

President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to the relations of the victims, and ordered emergency officials and the regional governor to provide support for the bereaved.

Mr al-Ghaith said there was no indi- cation it was an act of terrorism. Airports in Russia have been on high alert since a suspected terrorist bomb destroyed a Russian airliner over Sinai in October, killing 224 people. Investigators are concentrating on “pilot error caused by poor weather or technical failure” as the main lines of inquiry.

Weather data citied on Russian television indicate low cloud, rain, and wind speeds of nearly 70 miles per hour. Vasily Golybev, the governor of Rostov region, said a “hurricane force” gust of wind seemed to have struck the aircraft, causing it to slam into the ground 250 yards from the runway.

The pilots had aborted an earlier landing attempt and circled for two hours before the second, fatal attempt to land. Fabrizio Poli, managing director of aircraft trading company Tyrus Wings and an experienced airline pilot, said that pilot fatigue could also have been a factor.