MiG flew low above the houses and cut down 300 meters of trees when falling (photo)
The jet with fighting equipment aboard broke into small pieces. The eye-witnesses tell the European Radio for Belarus the details of the tragedy and what is happening at the catastrophe site at the moment.
The journalist has seen a lot in his life, but was shocked seeing the MiG-29 impact zone. Taking into consideration the size of the remains, it is possible to make a conclusion that the explosion when the jet hit the ground was very strong. It can be explained by the fact that the jet had fighting equipment aboard at the moment of the catastrophe. That is why the impact zone is now sealed by the military men of internal troops.
Piatro Huzaeuski: “The military men arrived here yesterday night. The vehicles with them went through the village Khatynichy, which is located nearby, at approximately 11 p.m. on September 23. Investigation group is working at the tragedy site. There are plenty of people. Deminers are also working there, the investigators say there has been fighting equipment aboard, which can still be at the impact zone”.
The place where the jet crashed is 3-5 kilometers away from the village Radziavilavichy and approximately 6 kilometers away from the village Khatynichy. The local inhabitants told the European Radio for Belarus how the jet flew low above the roofs of the houses before falling down:
“It was working time, a little after 5 p.m., — says another local inhabitant. — They fell in the woods. There is a swampland and a forest. It's pretty much away from the village, but even though we did see the smoke”.
“It flew over the buildings, the five-storeyed ones. Very low. It hardly managed to fly out of Radziavilavichy and fell…”
The pilots drove the jet away from residential buildings for their lives cost. However, investigation has made no conclusions yet with regard to both reasons for falling of the jet and why the Lt.Col Siarhej Kavalenka and the Mayor Aliaksandr Zhyhaila did not catapult.
Besides, their MiG-29 has been insured. This was informed to the European Radio for Belarus by the Head of the Press-Center of the Ministry of Defense Viachaslau Ramenchyk:
“The jet has been insured. Where- it's a confidential information, we have no right to disclaim the insurance agent”.
Let us remind you that MiG-29 belonged to the 61st air force fighter base and air defense troops, located in Baranavichy. The jet fighter SU-27 which crashed during the avia-show in Radam a year ago also belonged to this air force base and was insured by the Ministry of Defense in the company "Pramtransinvest".
Photo: Piatro Huzaeuski, "Hantsavitski Chas".
Photo of the pilots: kp.by.
