Pilot of crashed MIG-31 diverted it from village

Marat Yedigeev, the commander pilot of MIG-31 aircraft that crashed on April 23 in Karaganda oblast, diverted the falling aircraft from a village, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Air Defense Commander in Chief Aleksander Sorokin. According to Sorokin, the investigation defined that the crew was acting properly. Navigator Ruslan Galimzyanov ejected himself from the plane at the height of 1,000 meters. The commander pilot Marat Yedigeev tried to save the aircraft and divert it from the village until the last moment. He ejected himself in the last moment but the height was insufficient for his parachute to open. "The pilot was trained to flight in any and all weather conditions, at day and at night. It was defined that the crew acted properly, showing bravery and heroism till the very end. They tried to save the aircraft and prevent it from crashing into a village," Sorokin said. He said that a state commission was appointed. It includes representatives of the plant where the aircraft was overhauled. The aircraft's pilot Marat Yedigeev died in the accident leaving a wife and three children. The second crew member, navigator Ruslan Galimzyanov was hospitalized with no threats to his life. The aircraft underwent an overhaul in Russia on December 31, 2012. It was on warranty maintenance and flew only 42 hours after the overhaul. By Altynai Zhumzhumina