Criminal case opened after training plane crash near Orsk

As reported by 56.RU, the investigative bodies of the Central Interregional Transport Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee have opened a criminal case following the crash of a training aircraft in Orsk.

The charge is «Violation of safety rules for the movement and operation of air transport by a person who, by virtue of the work performed or position held, is obliged to comply with these rules, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence» (Part 3 of Article 263 of the Russian Criminal Code).

According to available information, the plane began to descend sharply after gaining altitude, killing all three on board — a pilot-instructor and two cadets.

«The investigation is considering several versions of what happened: pilot error or technical malfunctions of the aircraft. […] To determine the exact causes of the incident, a set of initial investigative actions is being carried out, witnesses are being questioned, and a number of examinations are being prepared for appointment,» clarified the Central Interregional Transport Investigation Department.

Recall that on 2 February 2026, at 12:51, a message about the crash of a Diamond DA-40 aircraft with registration number RA-02673 was received by the «112» dispatcher. It crashed in the area of the Dzhantalap settlement.

There were three people on board: 36-year-old Vasily N. (pilot-instructor), as well as 21-year-old Dmitry S. and 20-year-old Timofey K. (cadets).

All three died: Timofey«s father spoke with colleagues from E1.RU, and Dmitry»s mother — with colleagues from MSK1.RU. The head of Orsk, Artem Vorobyov, and Governor Yevgeny Solntsev promised to provide any assistance to the relatives and loved ones of the victims. The head of Buguruslan, Dmitry Dyachenko, also expressed condolences — it is in this city that there is a flight school, about whose aircraft emergencies we reported — in the region, there have been 5 emergencies with Diamond aircraft in 5 years.

The crashed aircraft belonged to the St. Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) classified the incident as a disaster: the Interstate Aviation Committee will investigate.

All news on the topic of the crash in Orsk is collected in a separate section.