Putin's ONLY rustbucket aircraft carrier that limped through Channel in pathetic show of force ‘to finally be scrapped'
Work on the hulking
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Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the English Channel
Credit: EPA
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The rust bucket is said to be doomed for the scrap heap
Credit: AFP or licensors
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The vessel has been dubbed Putin's 'Ship of Shame'
Credit: Reuters
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It's believed the rust bucket -
Former Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Sergey Avakyants applauded the decision to cease repairs, calling
He said today: 'The aircraft carrier is already a fading era.
Read more on World
'It is a very expensive and inefficient naval weapon.
'The future belongs to carriers of robotic complexes and unmanned aviation.
'If the decision is made not to continue repairs the Admiral Kuznetsov should just be taken, cut up for scrap, and disposed of."
The ship was inherited by the
Most read in The US Sun
According to the report, it underwent repairs in 2018 after a trip to Syria and its future has remained "unclear" ever since.
Reports said: 'Misfortunes continue to haunt the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the only aircraft carrier in the Russian fleet that the Kremlin inherited from the USSR.
Second huge cargo ship is attacked and SUNK by Houthi rebels in deadly Red Sea raid
'Having been put under repair in 2018 after a voyage to the shores of Syria, Admiral Kuznetsov was never able to return to service on time, and its future remains unclear.'
The
It used to carry up to 28 planes (Su-33 and MiG-29) and 17 helicopters (Ka-52K and Ka-27), and was armed with P-700 Granit missiles.
But in 2019 and 2022, the vessel was struck by two separate fires whilst undergoing works - causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
When the Admiral Kuznetsov came to the English Channel
The Admiral Kuznetsov "sulked" past the UK on its way back to Russia from Syria in 2017.
UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon dubbed the carrier a "ship of shame" as the vessel and its task group was escorted by a Royal Navy frigate and jets.
Britain sent HMS St Albans and Typhoon fighters to monitor the ship and "provide reassurance" to countries bordering the North Sea and English Channel.
Fallon said: "We are man-marking these vessels every step of the way around the UK as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe."
Cmdr Chris Ansell, in command of HMS St Albans, said: 'This tasking demonstrates the Royal Navy's commitment to protecting our home waters and readiness to undertake short notice operations.
'The movements of the Russian ships are being continually monitored in a co-ordinated response between the Royal Navy, RAF and our NATO partners.
"As an island nation, the security of the seas around our coastline is vital and this sort of task is routine business for HMS St Albans and the Royal Navy, which stands ready at all times.
The ship measures the length of three football pitches and weighs a staggering the 58,000-tonnes.
Last year, crew members Ivan Akenchenkov, 51, and Sergey Ovsienko, 30, and Oleg Sosedov, 21, who served on the aircraft carrier, were reported missing during a Russian attack in Kharkiv.
Oleg is now reported to have died during an attack in Kharkiv on July 23.
His mother Natasha Simbirtseva has been told by fellow servicemen that he had been killed.
She said: 'He has not been in touch since July 21.
'He was seen alive on July 23, and has not been seen since.
'But there is a fellow soldier who confirmed that the two [dead] are my son Oleg Sosedov and Dmitry Teplukhin [another seaman].'
The desperate mother said: 'No official information has come.
'The commanders are not calling and are not reporting any information.'
She slammed the 'complete inaction' of top brass in failing to search for missing men on they battlefield and repatriate the corpses of fallen fighters.
'It's ****ed up that fighters are being sent from our only aircraft carrier to storm a village in the Kharkiv region,' she raged.
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Oleg Sosedov reportedly died after being sent from the warship to Ukraine
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The ship was inherited by the Kremlin from the USSR and has a history of malfunctions
Credit: East2West
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It underwent repairs in 2018 after a trip to Syria and its future has remained 'unclear' ever since
Credit: East2West
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Fears grow Air India crash was pilot suicide as aviation expert says ‘vanishingly small' chance fuel was cut by accident
FEARS are mounting that the doomed Air India flight was a pilot suicide - as an aviation expert claimed there was a vanishingly small chance the fuel was cut by accident. Ex-pilot Terry Tozer told The Sun why it was extremely likely that the fuel switches were 9 The plane seconds before disaster Credit: X 9 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the lead pilot in the doomed Air India flight 9 Officials inspect the remains of the Air India passenger plane at the crash site in Ahmedabad Credit: EPA 9 Clive Kunder was the co-pilot on the doomed flight Credit: Getty He explained why the plane's lock mechanism meant it was incredibly unlikely the Tozer said: "The fuel "And that implies that somebody did that as a conscious human action, because so far as we understand, these switches have a lock mechanism." He added: "They have to be lifted in order to be moved. Otherwise they lock in position." READ MORE WORLD NEWS The claims come after the But aviation experts, like Tozer, have claimed it is almost certainly a case of Two major commercial pilots' associations rejected claims that human error caused the Boeing to crash and kill 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. Tozer also explained another piece of evidence which strongly ruled out an electrical or Most read in The Sun He said: "The fact that the fuel cutoff was initiated first with one engine and then the other... kind of implies a conscious lifting of a switch - moving it and lifting it." The expert said that unless somebody could prove a "weird electromechanical process" caused the switch to move without human intervention, then all evidence indicated that "somebody lifted and moved one switch followed by the other". Air India victims' families slam 'cover-up' probe as questions remain over possible engine switch confusion And he said the chance somebody could prove the He explained: "I find it hard to believe that that something you would do by accident." But he stopped short of speculating "And of course, that opens another whole can of worms as to why somebody would do that," he said. He also told how the report was "probably trying to avoid deliberately pointing a finger" at either of the pilots by not naming which one said "why did you cutoff" in response to the fuel cutoff switches moving. "The full report will basically come up with final conclusions," he said, adding that not naming them specifically indicated investigators were "very circumspect". He added: "But of course, if the locking mechanism didn't actually function on this aircraft, you can't entirely rule out the fact that someone inadvertently touched them and they flicked off. "Having said that, I can't see why any pilot would have their hands anywhere near the area where these switches are located." He continued: "The first officer was flying the aircraft. Whose hands would have both been on the control column? "The captain would have been monitoring what was going on. So he had his hands free." 9 Wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane sits on the ground outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Credit: Reuters 9 Landing gear of the Air India plane crashed directly on the BJ Medical College UG hostel mess Credit: x/mitrapredator 9 A cockpit view of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft shows the fuel switch; Annotations by The Sun Graphics Credit: Getty He said that another pilot in India speculated that the pilot committed suicide - but said that this statement was "rather presumptuous because we simply don't know". The claims came as it was revealed that Air India's CEO backed the doomed fight's pilots in a leaked memo, Reuters reported. Airline CEO Campbell Wilson said the probe into the horrific crash was far from over and warned it would be unwise to jump to any conclusions. He said in the memo: "The release of the preliminary report marked the point at which we, along with the world, began receiving additional details about what took place. "Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions." Wilson added: "The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over." Key findings of the report: Dual engine shutdown - fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' Confusion between pilots - cockpit audio confirms one pilot asked 'why did you cutoff', the other replied 'I didn't' RAT deployed - as seen in CCTV footage before the crash Engine relight attempted - fuel switches were found returned to the "RUN" at crash site 32 seconds - the time the aircraft was airborne before it crashed Thrust levers mismatch - Thrust levers found at idle but black box data shows takeoff thrust was still engaged Fuel test pass - fuel was clean without any contamination Normal take-off set-up - Flaps and landing gear correctly configured No bird activity - clear skies, good visibility, light winds Pilot credentials clear - both medically fit and rested No sabotage detected - although FAA alerted over a known fuel switch vulnerability not checked by Air India Aircraft loading - the flight was within weight and balance limits The Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick from Indian Ahmedabad began to lose thrust and sink shortly after takeoff,the report released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said. The memo also said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults, and that all required maintenance had been carried out. The claims and leaked memo also came as it was revealed the doomed flight's captain was considering quitting early after his mum's death. Flight AI171 was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was reportedly just He was looking to retire early and take care of his 92-year-old father Pushkaraj Sabharwal - a former Indian civil aviation official - who became alone after his wife's death. Savitri Budhania, who lives close to Captain Sabharwal's house, said she once told him that "your father is too old to be living alone". To which the pilot replied: "Just one or two more flights… then I'm going to just be with Papa." A leading aviation expert in India also told The Telegraph that Captain Sabharwal suffered from mental health issues and depression - and had taken time off in the last few years following his mum's death. Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a former instructor pilot of Boeing 737, said: "I have heard from several Air India pilots who told me he had some depression and mental health issues. "He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years." Crash investigators are now said to be The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - including 53 Brits - smashed into a doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad in the west of India. The plane was headed to London Gatwick when it crashed just seconds after take-off, killing all but one passenger. 9 Tail of the doomed Air India flight Credit: Reuters 9 Vishwash Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India crash, poses for the first time since the disaster Credit: Dan Charity
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Air India pilot's mental health probed and medical records seized after fuel turned off in cockpit killing 260
CRASH investigators are said to be probing the medical records of the doomed Air India flight's Captain amid claims he suffered from mental health problems. Preliminary report into the fatal crash found the which led to a 10 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the lead pilot in the doomed Air India flight 10 Officials inspect the remains of the Air India passenger plane at the crash site near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad Credit: EPA 10 One of the rear landing gears amid debris at the site of a plane crash Credit: EPA 10 The plane seconds before disaster Credit: X The Air India flight bound to London Gatwick was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was reportedly just months away from retirement. But the pilot had been considering leaving the airlines early to look after his elderly father, A leading aviation expert in India told the media outlet that Captain Sabharwal reportedly suffered from mental health issues and depression - and had taken time off in the last few years following his mum's death. Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a former instructor pilot of Boeing 737, said: "I have heard from several Air India pilots who told me he had some depression and mental health issues. more on Air india crash "He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years." Although Mr Ranganathan added that Captain Sabharwal "must have been medically cleared by the company [Air India] doctors" before flying. He is understood to have taken a Class I medical exam on September 5 last year. Investigators are now said to be probing his medical records after the preliminary crash report indicated there may have been human error, although some aviation experts claim it is a case of deliberate action. Most read in The Sun Sources said the black box analysis has so far been unable to rule out 'improper, inadvertent or intentional' action that caused them to be flipped. Families of the victims who tragically died in the crash have Second-by-second breakdown of Air India jet disaster from mayday call to horror crash – all within a minute of takeoff They have dubbed the investigation "biased" and said it only appears to "blame the dead pilots". The Airline Pilots' Association of India (APAI) rejected the 'tone and direction' of the inquiry and said it came without sufficient evidence. However, India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that investigators probed in a "mature, transparent" way. "This is a preliminary report. We want the final report to come in, so let us wait for it," he added. Early findings in the 15-page report released by the Indian authorities indicate The fuel switches were then toggled to the "RUN" position, and the engines appeared to be gathering power , but failed to stop the plane from decelerating. Key findings of the report: Dual engine shutdown - fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' Confusion between pilots - cockpit audio confirms one pilot asked 'why did you cutoff', the other replied 'I didn't' RAT deployed - as seen in CCTV footage before the crash Engine relight attempted - fuel switches were found returned to the "RUN" at crash site 32 seconds - the time the aircraft was airborne before it crashed Thrust levers mismatch - Thrust levers found at idle but black box data shows takeoff thrust was still engaged Fuel test pass - fuel was clean without any contamination Normal take-off set-up - Flaps and landing gear correctly configured No bird activity - clear skies, good visibility, light winds Pilot credentials clear - both medically fit and rested No sabotage detected - although FAA alerted over a known fuel switch vulnerability not checked by Air India Aircraft loading - the flight was within weight and balance limits Analysis of the cockpit voice recording revealed that one of the pilots asked: 'Why did you cut off?" To which the other pilot replied: 'I didn't." Though the report does not identify which comments were made by the flight's captain and which were made by the first officer. Nor does it "identify the cause - whether it was crew error, mechanical malfunction, or electronic failure." Flipping the switches to cut off almost immediately cuts the fuel supply to the engines. It is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. But the inconclusive report, which came after 30 days of the crash, does not indicate that the flight encountered any such emergency situation. 10 A cockpit view of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft shows the fuel switch; Annotations by The Sun Graphics Credit: Getty 10 Clive Kunder was the co-pilot on the doomed flight Credit: Getty 10 Rear end of the aircraft after it crashed into a medical hostel It is almost impossible to turn the switches off accidentally - they must be pulled up and locked before flipping - a safety design feature that was introduced decades ago. Protective guards are further installed to minimise the risks - raising further questions as to why the fuel switches in the Air India flight were turned off. The report points out that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018 issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) - highlighting that a few Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. But it was not deemed unsafe, and no Airworthiness Directive (AD) - a legally enforceable regulation to correct unsafe conditions in a product - was issued. A similar switch design is used in Boeing 787-8 aircraft, including Air India's VT-ANB Dreamliner in question. 10 The FAA and Boeing have now privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, according to four sources and a document seen by Reuters. The report said Air India had said it had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections, as the FAA 2018 advisory was not a legal mandate. But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. Experts have said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches. "If they were moved because of a pilot, why?" asked U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - including 53 Brits - smashed into a doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad in the west of India. The plane was headed to London Gatwick when it crashed just seconds after take-off, killing all but one passenger. 10 Landing gear of the Air India plane crashed directly on the BJ Medical College UG hostel mess Credit: x/mitrapredator 10 Vishwash Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India crash, poses for the first time since the disaster Credit: Dan Charity
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Air India victims' families slam ‘cover-up' probe as questions remain over possible engine switch confusion
FAMILIES of the victims who tragically died in the Air India crash have slammed the preliminary report as a cover-up. Mystery has deepened over the actual cause of the crash after an initial investigation found the 13 Officials inspect the remains of the Air India passenger plane at the crash site near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad Credit: EPA 13 Indian firefighters and rescue personnel work on the site of an Air India plane Credit: AP 13 Rear end of the aircraft after it crashed into a medical hostel Credit: Getty 13 The plane seconds before disaster Credit: X/nchorAnandN Initial findings in the 15-page report released by the Indian Authorities indicate switches to the engines' fuel supplies were moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF". "The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off," the report said. Analysis of the cockpit voice recording revealed that one of the pilots asked: 'Why did you cut off?" To which the other pilot replied: 'I didn't." more on Ir India crash Though the report does not identify which comments were made by the flight's captain and which were made by the first officer. However, families of some of the 260 victims have slammed the report, saying "they dont accept it." They have dubbed the report is "biased" and said it only appears to "blame the dead pilots". Ameen Siddiqui, the brother-in-law of Akeel Nanabawa, died alongside his wife and their four-year-old daughter, told The Telegraph: "It's a cover-up to protect Air India and the government. Most read in The Sun "They want to blame dead pilots who can't defend themselves. "How can the fuel switches end up turning off at a critical moment, either through pilot error or a mechanical fault?" Pilot of doomed India Air jet hailed a hero by locals who cheated death by a few feet "And if these pilots were so careless, why did the government allow them to fly at all? Air India until recently was owned by the government." Meanwhile, the cousin of sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were flying home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday, said he was "not satisfied" by the report. Ishan Baxi said: "We're still hoping for a more transparent and honest investigation that doesn't shy away from addressing possible mechanical flaws or lapses in protocol to avoid future potential accidents. "I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who's accountable. It shouldn't hide behind vague terms." Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu told reporters that investigators probed in a "mature, transparent" way. "This is a preliminary report. We want the final report to come in, so let us wait for it," he said. Flipping the switches to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines. It is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. The report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. 13 A cockpit view of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft shows the fuel switch; Annotations by The Sun Graphics 13 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the lead pilot 13 Clive Kunder was the co-pilot on the doomed flight 13 Debris at the site of a plane crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Credit: EPA But the inconclusive report, which came after 30 days of the crash, does not indicate that the flight encountered any such emergency situation. It is almost impossible to turn the switches off accidentally - they must be pulled up and locked before flipping - a safety design feature that was introduced decades ago. Protective guards are further installed to minimise the risks - raising further questions as to why the fuel switches in the Air India flight were turned off. Sources say the black box analysis has so far been unable to rule out 'improper, inadvertent or intentional' action that caused them to be flipped. Interestingly, the report points out that the US Federal Aviation Administration in 2018 issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) - highlighting that a few Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. But it was not deemed unsafe, and no Airworthiness Directive (AD) - a legally enforceable regulation to correct unsafe conditions in a product - was issued, The same switch design is used in Boeing 787-8 aircraft, including Air India's VT-ANB Dreamliner in question. 13 The report also found that pilots were able to restart one of the engines, but failed to stop the plane from decelerating. The fuel switches then returned to the "RUN" position and the engines appeared to be gathering power, but "one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY'", the report said. Experts have said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches. "If they were moved because of a pilot, why?" asked U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse. No significant bird activity was observed in the vicinity of the plane's flight path, the report added. Pilot Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder had more than 14,000 hours of flying experience between them - including some 9,000 hours on the 787. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - including 53 Brits - smashed into a doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad in the west of India. The plane was headed to London Gatwick when it crashed just seconds after take-off, killing all but one passenger. 13 Landing gear of the Air India plane crashed directly on the BJ Medical College UG hostel mess Credit: x/mitrapredator 13 Search and rescue teams respond to the scene of a plane crash in Ahmedabad, India Credit: AP 13 Vishwash Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India crash, poses for the first time since the disaster Credit: Dan Charity 13 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the only survivor in an Air India plane crash at a hospital in Ahmedabad Credit: Alamy
