ANDREAPOL, Tver Region. May 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Mikhailov arrived at the Andreapol aviation garrison on Friday to investigate causes of the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter crash, which occurred in the Tver region on May 12.
The investigation will involve the command of the 28th fighter regiment, of which the MiG-29 was organic, representatives of the 16th air army command, the Special-Purpose Command, and the Air Force Command.
A source in the Air Force Staff earlier told Interfax-Military News Agency, "According to early reports, the air crash was caused by the pilot, who decided on his own to fly a roll while making the final approach to the Andreapol base airfield."
Six MiG-29 fighters, which covered Moscow from the air during the May 9 festivities, took off from the Kubinka airfield in the Moscow region and headed for Andreapol on May 12. "Three planes flew a roll over their airfield and landed in Andreapol. The fourth fighter, controlled by first-class pilot Valery Gusev, went out of control while flying an aerobatics stunt, and hit the ground not far from the airstrip," the source said.
"A criminal case was launched in connection with the incident, and several officials, who were in charge of the flight, will be brought to justice," he noted.
He named the flight control officer, the commander and chief-of-staff of the 28th fighter regiment, members of the 16th air army command, and high-ranking officials of the Special Purpose Command.
Official causes of the MiG-29 crash are not named yet.