The search for the aircraft that crashed Sunday in the Baltic Sea near Ventspils continues, with several countries involved in the process, Latvian Television reported on September 5.
The reasons for the crash remain unclear. It is reported that the aircraft had air pressure issues inside the cabin, and the pilot with whom communications were lost soon after takeoff could have lost consciousness and consequently control over the aircraft.
It is not yet known which country will be responsible for investigating the incident as the plane crashed into the sea and sank into neutral waters.
"Active search work is ongoing to remove the remains of this aircraft and, most likely, the deceased. After this work has been completed, active aircraft accident investigation work will accordingly be launched. Currently, the Accident Investigation Bureau is also in contact with its counterparts in Austria and Spain to decide which investigators will be the leading ones on the matter. More information on the possible causes of the accident could only be provided when the investigation concludes when it will be possible to restore the whole course, the sequence. And then I would also understand the reasons for which the aircraft crew did not contact or respond to the Air Traffic Control Center and why this aircraft crashed,” said Aivis Vincevs, head of the Emergency Situations of the Civil Aviation Agency.
Anita Šķinuma, director of the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, said that Latvia would be involved in the accident investigation with other countries. “Passengers flew out of Spain with a destination in Cologne, Germany. It didn't land there, continued its course. Next information is that it has crashed in the Baltic Sea. Consequently, Germany, Austria, as the country of registration, and Spain, where the plane took off from, and of course, we, Lithuania and Sweden, are involved, because they had also flown into Swedish airspace,” she said.
Meanwhile, aviation specialists concede that this plane model might not have a black box that could make the investigation process difficult.
The only findings so far are a number of items which, according to their external appearance, could be wreckage of the aircraft. The sea depth reaches approximately 50-60 meters at this location.
On Tuesday morning, National Armed Forces (NBS) representative Pēteris Subbota told Latvian Radio that human remains have possibly been found. "Closing the active phase of the search, all items found that would have occurred from this crash, including, possibly, human body parts, have been given to the criminal police. The expertise will be carried out by the competent authorities – the Criminal police, then we will know more," said Subbota.
