RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR RULES OUT TERRORISM AS CAUSE OF ARMENIAN PLANE CRASH

RTR Russia TV, Moscow
3 May 06

Following the crash of Armenian airline Armavia’s A-320 airliner
earlier today, Russia TV said that “poor weather conditions” were
probably to blame.

“The crew twice asked for permission to carry out emergency landing
precisely because of poor weather conditions,” said the TV.

“The possibility of a terrorist act is being ruled out, said Russian
Deputy Prosecutor-general Nikolay Shepel. No-one in the disaster area
heard an explosion, nor had anyone seen an explosion in the sky. All
the debris is deep in the sea and only a large oil slick can be seen
on the sea surface. Had there been an explosion, the oil would have
had to catch fire,” said the TV, adding the search for black boxes
was underway.