By John Ikani
Newly uncovered flight-tracking data has shed light on the final moments of the Legacy 600 executive jet, which tragically carried Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, to his demise.
The data indicates that the jet encountered no apparent issues until a rapid descent occurred within its last 30 seconds of flight.
According to Russia’s aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, Prigozhin was one of the 10 individuals on board the ill-fated plane. The aircraft was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg when it crashed close to Kuzhenkino village in the Tver Region, as confirmed by the country’s emergency situations ministry.
The incident occured at approximately 3:19 p.m. GMT when the plane experienced a sudden and steep vertical drop, as explained by Ian Petchenik from Flightradar24.
In a span of just around 30 seconds, the aircraft plummeted over 8,000 feet from its cruising altitude of 28,000 feet.
Petchenik commented, “Whatever occurred transpired swiftly.” He added, “They might have been trying to regain control after the occurrence,” suggesting that the aircraft’s steep descent could have prompted a struggle.
However, leading up to this abrupt descent, there were “no indications of any anomalies with the aircraft.”
Video footage captured the plane descending rapidly, its nose pointing almost directly downward, accompanied by a trail of smoke or vapor.
Russian authorities have initiated a criminal investigation to determine the cause behind the crash.
Sources cited by Reuters mentioned that some unnamed individuals in Russian media speculated that the aircraft might have been brought down by one or more surface-to-air missiles.
Embraer SA, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, clarified that it had not offered any services or support to the plane in recent years. The plane typically accommodates around 13 passengers.
In an official statement, the company affirmed its adherence to international sanctions imposed on Russia. The luxury jet, registered as RA-02795 on Flightradar24, shares the same registration as the aircraft that transported Prigozhin to Belarus following the mutiny earlier.
Flightradar24’s last recorded aircraft position was at 3:11 p.m. GMT, just prior to the crash. The possibility of signal jamming or interference in the area likely hindered the gathering of additional location data.
Data from other sources extended for nine more minutes.
Flightradar24’s data indicated that the jet underwent several brief ascents and descents, each spanning a few thousand feet, within 30 seconds before its final and tragic plunge.
The last data point from Flightradar24 on the jet was received at 3:20 p.m.
