Passenger plane crash near Moscow: Experts come up with possible causes

Different versions of what could have caused flight AN-148 to crash are being discussed in Russia. The flight was heading for Orsk near Moscow, but crashed killing 71 passengers and six crew members.

According to the Russian Meduza online outlet, one of the versions is a possible mid-air explosion caused by either a terrorist attack or engine failure. The debris field, which spans an area of over 30 hectares, supports this theory, as does the fact that the crew failed to report any incidents on board.

Another version has it that the cockpit gauges failed as with another AN-148 in 2011, making it exceed its speed capabilities causing the plane to tear apart mid-air.

Other sources claim the plane’s engines were running up until the moment it hit the ground, whereafter the fuel combusted and caused an explosion.

For reasons yet unknown the crew refused de-icing. However, numerous experts claim that icing could not be the reason for the crash as the plane fell from a height of two kilometres, which the plain would not have been able to reach if the wings were iced over.

Another major air crash incident which occurred in Russia happened near Sochi in December 2016 when a Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 jetliner crashed into the Black Sea. No official report regarding the cause of the crash has been provided as yet.