MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry is concerned over the growing number of emergency situations in the Air Force.
As many as 37 people have died in crashes of four MI-8 Hip helicopters, an SU-24 Fencer bomber, an SU-25 Flanker attack plane and an AN-26 Curl transport plane this year, sources in the ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"The analysis of emergencies proves that a high rate of accidents and unjustified losses of aircraft mainly results from poor skills of flight personnel," a source said.
"The system of screening and appointment of flight personnel to higher military posts that has been functioning so well is now disrupted for obvious reasons. Sometimes unprepared officials are appointed to those posts, and they are unable to organize competent flight training of military aviation units," he said.
The source stressed that 12 military aircraft crashed in emergency situations in 2000, killing 105 pilots and passengers. Thirteen aircraft crashed and 49 people died in emergency situations in 2001.
"Aircraft accidents in the armed forces involve well-known types of planes and helicopters," the source added.