Investigation into the Crash of the Prigozhin's Plane
Distance between the two larger parts of the plane on the ground indicates that the plane broke apart relatively high up, which could be a result of an explosion in the air.
Discovery of the Second Part of the Plane
The second part of the plane belonging to the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was found on Friday, two days after the crash, according to TASS.
The location where the second part of the plane was found could be crucial in investigating the cause of the plane crash, which claimed the life of Prigozhin himself, as confirmed by the Kremlin. Prigozhin was the man who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the Russian army and indirectly against President Putin.
Russian media also released a video of the second part of Prigozhin's plane, consisting of wings and landing gear with no traces of anti-aircraft defense.
Interestingly, the second part of the plane was found about three kilometers away from the main part or fuselage of the aircraft.
The distance between the two larger parts of the plane on the ground suggests that the plane broke into two pieces at a relatively high altitude, which could be the result of an explosion in the air.
Eyewitnesses of the crash also reported hearing an explosion before the plane went down.
Residents of the Tver region confirmed yesterday that they heard a loud bang and then saw the plane plummeting towards the ground.
US intelligence agencies believe that the plane carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin was intentionally brought down, but they do not believe it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
Preliminary assessments by the US government, though incomplete, suggest that a bomb exploded on the plane or that some other form of sabotage caused the accident northwest of Moscow.
The Russian government has confirmed that it is investigating the cause of the crash but has not provided any explanation.
The Kremlin stated on Friday that the claim of intentional downing of Prigozhin's plane by Russia is an “absolute lie.”
