CONCERNING THE CRASH IN SUDAN OF AN AN-12 PLANE WITH A RUSSIAN CREW

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

On October 6 in Sudan an An-12 transport plane with a 4-member Russian crew on board crashed while making a landing approach at Heglig Airport (the country's south). According to preliminary data received from Khartoum, an error on the part of the crew, who were known as experienced and highly qualified, is practically to be ruled out. The plane was used by the Sudanese SARIA airline for the carriage of cargoes.

According to Russian embassy in Khartoum data, the crew consisted of:

1. Sergey Alexeyevich Shevtsov, b. 1963 - aircraft captain.

2. Vladimir Leonidovich Doroniv, b. 1960 - second pilot.

3. Yuri Viktorovich Beznosov, b. 1957 - flight mechanic.

4. Oleg Borisovich Novikov, b. 1947 - navigator.

We extend deeply-felt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the Russians killed in the crash.

All the matters related to bringing the bodies of the dead home are being worked through by the Russian embassy in contact with the Sudanese side.

October 7, 2004