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Former Soviet Republics Plagued By Plane Crashes: New Russian Crash Kills 44

Locations in this article:  Denver, CO Moscow, Russia Paris, France

Former Soviet Republics Plagued By Plane CrashesForty-four people died on Monday when a RusAir passenger jet crashed while trying to land in Petrozavodsk, a Russian city 400 miles outside of Moscow.

Most passengers, including four American citizens, were killed on impact but eight people were pulled from wreckage including a mother and her two children. Five remain in critical condition.

The Petrozavodsk airport director cited unfavorable weather as the source for the accident but it’s unclear whether heavy fog, pilot error or poor runway conditions are to blame.

Eyewitnesses reported the plane clipped trees and a power line as it attempted to land. The downed power line shut down the runway lights moments before the plane hit the ground about a mile away from the runway. Following impact the plane burst into flames.

The plane’s black box has been recovered and an investigation is underway. Prior to the accident, the plane was in good condition. There is no evidence that a fire or explosion happened on board prior to the impact.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin To Still Appear At Paris Air Show?Per the International Air Transport Association, Russia and the other former Soviet Republics have some of the worst air traffic safety records.

Emergency landings are regularly recorded from these carriers. Experts cite weak government controls, poor pilot training, and budget mentality as the origin of the problems.

This accident is one of several similar incidents. In April 2010, high fog caused the Rusair Tu-154 crash, which killed 96 people including Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

In 2006, three separate crashes killed more than 400 people.

This crash comes at a poor time for Russia.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is scheduled to appear today at the Paris Air Show in an effort to support Russian firms seeking sales contracts. Putin has yet to cancel his appearance but it remains to see how he will handle this situation.

By Lily J. Kosner for PeterGreenberg.com.

Sources: CNN, NY Daily News, Denver Post

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