Don't speculate on cause of plane crash: Flydubai

Abu Dhabi, March 20 (IANS/EFE) Airliner Flydubai on Sunday asked people to avoid speculation on the causes of the crash of its Boeing 737-800 on Saturday in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, in which all 62 passengers were killed.

FlyDubai CEO Ghaith Al-Ghaith noted that he would answer the questions raised after the accident, but said he has to wait for the outcome of investigations.

Ghaith explained that security experts and engineers from the company have travelled to Rostov to help Russian investigators.

As for bad weather, the main possible cause of the accident, the CEO recalled that "Before we commit and say anything, we have to be sure. If weather wasn't suitable, the plane wouldn't have flown."

Russian investigators are working on all possible scenarios, including mistake by the crew, technical failure of the aircraft or bad weather.

Most of the Russian experts have indicated that the bad weather conditions, such as dense fog, heavy rain and gusting crosswind were the main reasons behind the crash.

According to different sources, the FlyDubai aircraft first tried to land at 1.30 a.m. and then waited over two hours before making a renewed attempt to touch ground at Rostov-on-Don.

It was during the second attempt that the plane collided with the ground on an angle leaning towards one wing, as can be seen in the images captured and witness accounts, and after which an intense explosion occurred.

The Boeing-737-800 was carrying 55 passengers -- 18 men, 33 women, 4 children -- and 7 crew, all of whom died on the spot when the plane crashed violently around 3.40 a.m., some 250 metres from the runway, according to the Rostov airport authorities.

--IANS/EFE

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