Two survivors of Russian plane crash in grave conditionSeptember 9, 2011 - 14:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The two survivors of the plane crash that virtually wiped out the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team remain in critical conditions, a Health Ministry official said on Friday, September 9, RIA Novosti reported. Russian national side player Alexander Galimov and crew-member Alexander Sizov survived Wednesday’s crash, which killed 43 people. The plane fell to earth shortly after take-off from an airport near Yaroslavl, some 250km north of Moscow. “There has been no change in Galimov and Sizov’s conditions,” the official said. “They remain in an extremely grave condition.” Police eyewitnesses said Galimov walked away from the wreckage of the crash, despite suffering burns to 90% of his body. Media reports said that Galimov had spoken to his father and other family members after being brought to hospital. Russian aviation officials have yet to determine the cause of the accident. They say the investigation into the crash of the Yak-42 plane could last a week. On Friday they said the plane's motors were in working order before the crash. Reports suggest low-quality fuel may have caused the accident, and Yaroslavl airport has been banned from using its own supplies until the investigation is complete, an airport official said. The bodies of 39 of the victims have been identified. DNA tests will be used to establish the identities of the four remaining bodies, investigators said. The Lokomotiv roster included players and coaches from 10 countries, including the team's Canadian coach, Brad McCrimmon, Swedish goalie Stefan Liv and Czech striker Karel Rachunek. International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel called the crash "the darkest day in the history of our sport." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |