CLUES

Russian Flight Recorder Indicates ‘Faulty’ Wing Flaps

Pilots’ final words show struggle before military plane crashed.

A flight-data recorder recovered from a Russian jet that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday has reportedly revealed the aircraft had faulty wing flaps. Aviation sources told the Interfax news agency that the panels on the wings, which are designed to help lift an aircraft, allegedly did not open in sync properly. The issue led the pilots to lose control of the plane at a critical moment. The flight recorder reportedly captured the crew’s last words: “The flaps, hell... !” The TU-154 airliner crashed just two minutes after takeoff from Sochi. It was bound for an air force base in Syria, where the renowned Russian military choir on board was set to perform in a new year’s concert. Ninety-two people on board were killed, including the crew, journalists, humanitarians, and musicians.