Death toll of Su-34 crash in Russia’s Yeysk increases to 13, mourning declared

Three days of mourning for those killed in the fire after the fall of the Su-34 has been announced in Russia’s Yeysk, Report informs referring to TASS.

"Mourning has been declared in the Yeysk region from October 17 to October 19," the administration noted.

"The Main Military Investigative Directorate of Russia’s Investigative Committee continues the investigation of a criminal case opened under article 351 of the Criminal Code (violation of rules of flights or preparation for them) over the crash of a Sukhoi-34 plane in Yeysk," the press-service of the Investigative Committee said in a news release.

The investigation has taken for analysis samples of fuel at the airdrome of departure, as well as the necessary documentation.

"Pilots who managed to eject themselves, as well as airfield personnel, are being questioned. Flight recorders have already been recovered from the crash site for examination," the committee said.

The plane’s technical malfunction is the main line of inquiry.

On the evening of October 17, a Su-34 bomber crashed in a residential area of Yeysk. According to the Defense Ministry, one of the engines caught fire during takeoff. The burning fuel spill spread to a nine-storey apartment building. As a result of the emergency, 13 people, including 3 children, died, and another 19 were taken to the hospital with various injuries.