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Russian investigators: KHL plane crash happened because of pilot error

APTOPIX Russia Crash

Rescuers work at the crash site of a Russian Yak-42 jet near the city of Yaroslavl, on the Volga River about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. The Yak-42 jet carrying a top ice hockey team crashed while taking off Wednesday in western Russia. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said the plane was carrying the Lokomotiv ice hockey team from Yaroslavl.(AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

AP

The sad story about Yaroslavl Lokomotiv and their horrific plane crash in September now has its closure. Russian authorities have determined that pilot error is the reason why their flight ended in the death of all players and flight crew aboard the jet.

44 people died in the crash back on September 7 and investigators determined that the Yak-42 plane had its brakes activated by the pilot accidentally before takeoff and then over-correcting the situation by trying to elevate the jet too fast. That combination of moves as well as a poorly managed plane and poorly trained flight crew led to disaster.

Such a horrible occurrence will not soon be forgotten by anyone, but here’s to hoping that the determination of what went wrong can lead to some kind of closure for the families and friends of all who perished in the accident.