DUBAI // Air crash investigators on Tuesday started to analyse the audio date retrieved from FlyDubai flight FZ981’s black box, UAE authorities said.
The General Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Accident Investigation Sector is supporting investigators from Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee to analyse the recovered data from flight recorders following the crash on Saturday.
All 62 crew and passengers on board died when the plane exploded upon impact during a failed second attempt to land at Rostov-on-Don airport in Russia amid bad weather.
The aircraft wreckage has been moved to a secure location to allow a second team to begin an initial examination of it, the GCAA said.
“The Russian investigation team, as well as the UAE investigation team, will work continuously in full cooperation with the other parties to progress the investigation and all collected data and information will be given diligent consideration,” said Ismaeil Al Hosani, assistant director general of the Air Accident Investigation Sector.
Yesterday, FlyDubai released names of the passengers and crew on board the flight.
Among the dead were captain Aristos Sokratous from Cyprus, first officer Alejandro Alava Cruz and senior cabin crew Javier Curbelo Caro, who were both from Spain.
The cabin crew named were Maxim Aydrus from Russia, Alex Confait from the Seychelles, Laura De La Cruz Roca from Columbia and Zhyldyz Nasirdinova from Kyrgyzstan.
The names were released after their next of kin had been contacted, the low-cost carrier said in a statement on its website.
“FlyDubai would like to express once again its deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, the airline’s chief executive.
“The families of all those who have been affected by flight FZ981 remain our top priority. We would also like to express our gratitude for the work of the Russian officials, local authorities, emergency services and volunteers in difficult conditions in the aftermath of the accident and we continue to offer our support to them.”
The airline opened a family assistance centre in Rostov-on-Don to provide support and help to the bereaved.
“We would like to ask that the families and friends of those affected by this sad event are given the time and space they need to grieve,” the airline said on its website.
It said it would provide further updates as they became available.
Relatives are advised to call the numbers below for further information or visit the assistance centre in Rostov-on-Don.
From inside Russia (toll free): 8 800 333 42 12
From outside Russia: +44 20 3450 8853 or +971 4 293 4100
nhanif@thenational.ae
