Russian prosecutors reopen 2008 Boeing air crash case

The case was closed because investigators determined that the aircraft's captain, believed to be over-tired and slightly intoxicated, was the main suspect in the accident. Relatives of the victims appealed to the Russian authorities to reopen the case to prosecute Aeroflot officials citing the violation of flight safety regulations.

"The case has been sent for further investigation with specific instructions to review the actions of the officials who were responsible for ensuring the flight safety of the aircraft and to determine the legal measures against them," said Vladimir Markin, official spokesman for the Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor General's Office.

"In addition, the investigators have been instructed to give a legal assessment of the actions of all officials who were involved in pre-flight preparation of the plane and checkups of the crew before the flight," Markin added.

The Boeing-737-500, owned by Russian flagship air carrier Aeroflot, crashed on a Siberian railroad track linking Yekaterinburg and Perm on September 14, 2008.

After the initial investigation, the International Aviation Committee (IAC) concluded that the accident occurred when the aircraft's captain suffered from spatial disorientation, losing his sense of direction and causing the plane's left wing to tilt in midair.

According to the committee, the crew commander's work and rest schedule in the period preceding the air accident contributed to his general tiredness and ran counter to established standards.

In addition, forensic experts detected traces of alcohol in the captain's blood.

Russia's transportation watchdog demanded in October 2008 that airlines and pilot training schools double the number of flying hours required for pilots to be appointed crew captains from 500 to 1,000, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.