THERE WERE DRUNK PEOPLE ON THE PLANE

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[07:22 pm] 16 May, 2006

Today Michael Baghdasarov, owner of the “Armavia” company, didn’t
exclude that there were drunk people on the A-320 airplane but he
excluded the possibility of panic on the plane saying that “Dispatchers
record all conversations and they would have recorded it as well. The
voice of the pilot was very quiet and he spoke rather calmly.”

There was no thief on the plane. There wasn’t any bustle either. I
don’t exclude the possibility that some people were drunk, but I must
underline the fact that the bodies of many victims haven’t been found
yet. This itself testifies to the fact that they were wearing belts,
thus there couldn’t be any panic on the plane.

Baghdasarov added that they haven’t found the bodies of more that
60 people and those found are mainly women and elderly men, which
means that mainly men who are accused of organizing a bustle on the
airplane wore belts.

He also excluded the existence of weapon on the plane.

“It is impossible to take any weapon to a plane as they check
everything.”

Mr. Baghdasarov excluded 3 versions. “Our conclusions must be
warranted, we have the following facts; 8 tons of kerosene testify
that there was enough fuel on the plane. The plane underwent all the
necessary checks, we simply mistook Belgium for Budapest, but the
checking were made and our planes systematically undergo technical
checking in Yerevan”

As for the pilot’s sophistication there shouldn’t be any doubt on
this score. He studied abroad and was properly trained. We don’t
possess other facts.”

Baghdasarov noted once more that the weather was terrible on that day
but it couldn’t hamper the landing. “Armenian airplanes of Soviet
period encounter such problems in awful weather conditions whereas
the weather is not a serious problem for “Airbus” planes.”

Baghdasarov voices hope that the record boxes will be taken out of
the depth of the sea and they will be able to reveal the truth. “It
is a French airplane, the investigation is held by the “Airbus”
investigation bureau and I think that the record boxes will be
deciphered by the French as well, though Armenians and Russians
will also participate in the process as they are both conducting
investigation.”

He informed the journalists that they are negotiating with the
insurance company so that the payments will be done in time. “Today
the representatives of the company will arrive from London. Before
that they came from Russia. I think that the insurance money will
be paid soon.” “Armavia” has already bought a new plane and “Airbus
319” will be in Armenia on Thursday. The airplane was transported to
Canada, the pilots are having a rest at present and tomorrow they
will fly to Yerevan and on Thursday evening the airplane will make
its first flight. Baghdasarov promises that “Armavia” will hold the
flights according to the schedule by 3 “Airbuses” and 1 “Yak 42.” The
company intends to buy a new American plane for 50-70 passengers.