Details on Last Year’s Aviation Disaster in Kotayk Province

On December 1 of last year, the Interstate Aviation Committee of the CIS released an interim report regarding the aviation disaster that occurred near the village of Jraberd in Kotayk Province. The report reveals several interesting details surrounding the incident, as reported by Hetq.

Recall that on December 1, a Beechcraft 95-B55 Baron aircraft, registered in Slovakia (registration number OM-KVV), crashed shortly after takeoff from Zvartnots Airport, falling near the village of Jraberd, burning, and destroying itself. The two pilots, Russian citizens Alexey Protsenko (born 1979) and Vitaly Rogatkin (born 1983), were killed, and their charred bodies were recovered.

A criminal case was initiated under Article 341, Part 3 of the Criminal Code on December 1, and investigative actions are underway to clarify the circumstances of the disaster. An investigative group has been established within the Investigative Committee.

As part of the preliminary investigation, necessary examinations have been appointed, including forensic medical and forensic genetic examinations. In addition to the criminal proceedings, a professional investigation of the disaster has also been initiated. For this purpose, on December 5, a commission was appointed by the decision of the Prime Minister of Armenia, headed by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

The legislation of Armenia states that this commission organizes and conducts the professional investigation with the participation of relevant interested foreign states and, if necessary, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement. Based on this, Armenia has appealed to the IAC.

According to the interim report, on December 2, the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia contacted the IAC, resulting in the appointment of a professional commission to investigate the incident.

The IAC has sent notifications regarding the aviation disaster to the aviation authorities of the USA (the country that designed and produced the aircraft), Slovakia (the country of registration), Germany, and the Czech Republic (for the purpose of obtaining auxiliary information). The USA and Slovakia have appointed authorized representatives to participate in the investigation, which began on December 2. This investigation is supported by the commission appointed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia, and the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

Hetq previously reported that according to the Slovak aircraft register, the operator of the aircraft, manufactured in 1969, was the “Enlever Foundation” organization registered in Slovakia, while the owner was an individual named Vadim Korol. There was also information available online about the aircraft being for sale. The Czech company “CAMURO Consulting” had put it on the market. On November 27, OM-KVV flew from the Czech city of Příbram to the Slovak capital Bratislava, and from there to Burgas, Bulgaria. The aircraft then reached Armenia via Turkish airspace, where it was supposed to depart for Russia. It was assumed that the aircraft was to be transferred to a new owner.