MOSCOW — All three engines on a Russian jet that slammed into a riverbank were operating up until the moment of the crash and the plane’s stabilizer and flaps were in a proper position for takeoff, Russian experts said Friday.
The Moscow-based Interstate Aviation Committee, which is conducting the crash probe, had no conclusions about the cause of the crash that killed 43 people, including former Avalanche defensemenRuslan Salei and Karlis Skrastins.
The comments came as aviation experts examined flight data recorders from the crashed plane and began safety checks on Yak-42 jets nationwide. The chartered Yak-42 jet crashed Wednesday into the sides of the Volga River on a sunny, clear day moments after taking off near Yaroslavl, a city 150 miles northeast of Moscow.
Two men survived the crash — player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov — but they were in critical condition Friday, both in medicated comas after being transferred to Moscow for treatment. Hospital officials said Galimov had burns over 90 percent of his body.
Welts stepping down as Suns president
PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns president and chief executive Rick Welts, the first openly gay senior executive in pro sports, told the Arizona Republic he is leaving the team Thursday because he wants to be with his partner in Sacramento, Calif.
Lewis, Tseng tied for LPGA lead
ROGERS, Ark. — Stacy Lewis and Yani Tseng shot 5-under-par 66s and were tied for the first-round lead at the LPGA Northwest Arkansas Championship. Karen Stupples, Taylor Leon and Jin Young Pak were tied for third at 4-under. Suzann Pettersen, the world’s No. 2 player, was another stroke back in a group of nine that included Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.
• Stephen Dodd shot 6-under for the first 13 holes of his second round to stand 8-under for the tournament before darkness forced 78 players to abandon their rounds at the KLM Open in Hilversum, Netherlands. Shiv Kapur shot a 3-under 67 to take the clubhouse lead at 7-under 133, and U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy surged into contention with a 65.
Footnotes.
Ohio State fired Olympic champion Paul Hamm after his arrest for allegedly hitting and kicking a taxi driver, damaging a cab window and refusing to pay a $23 fare. Hamm, the only American man to win the Olympic (2004) and world (2003) all-around titles, had been an assistant gymnastics coach at Ohio State since June.
• Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said he “felt pretty good” after skating for the first time since offseason back surgery.
• Forward David Backes has been named the 20th captain in St. Louis Blues’ history.
• Spain’s Juan Jose Cobo kept the overall lead at the Spanish Vuleta and countryman Igor Anton won the 99-mile 19th stage as the cycling classic returned to Basque country after a 33-year absence.
