MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry's 13th research and development institute which is expected to participate in the investigation of the recent TU-154 Careless and TU-134 Crusty airliners crashes was cut off energy supply for debts, a source in the Air Force Staff told Interfax- Military News Agency Friday.
"Salaries have not been paid to the civilian personnel of the institute since June, and two days ago energy suppliers switched off power," the source said.
He added that the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) failed to pay 1.5 million Russian rubles ($51,330) for the investigation into the causes of the accident with the TU-154, shot down by a Ukrainian S-200 missile over the Black Sea in 2001. "The institute got nothing for the work done," the source said.
According to him, if the IAC had repaid the debt to the institute, it would have been enough to pay the salaries and the energy debts.
The source said that the personnel and equipment of the institute are best suited to conduct the most prudent and full investigation into aircraft crashes. "I am sure that the TU-134 and TU-154 crashes will also be investigated by the personnel of the institute, where the wreckage of the airliners will be delivered one of these days," he said.
The source added that institute's experts are ready to join the investigation only if the IAC pays for the job.
"The institute may take part in the investigation into the causes of the two crashes, if the IAC agrees with the contractual payment terms and only after a special address of the Defense Ministry and the Air Force leadership," the source said.
The institute quartered in Lyubertsy, Moscow region, is the leading military organization investigating aircraft accidents.