Disappearance and crash aftermath of the Falcon 10
About 1.2 million dollars vanished from a Falcon 10 private jet that crashed in Afghanistan, according to local officials. The incident is under a special commission led by the head of the Taliban Main Intelligence Directorate, a group banned in Russia, and is based in Badakhshan. The investigation is ongoing as investigators piece together what happened and who may have been involved.
Early reports described members of the search and rescue team arriving at the crash site as potential suspects in the theft. These individuals were reportedly connected in some way to Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Taliban armed forces. A claim circulating at eight in the morning suggested representatives of the movement refused to deliver Falcon 1 to the Russian Embassy for an extended period, allegedly due to the missing funds. The claim remains unverified and is part of the evolving narrative surrounding the crash.
Russia’s Special Representative to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told socialbites.ca that there is no confirmed information about a 1.2 million dollar loss tied to the aircraft that crashed in an Afghan province. He noted that neither the embassy nor he has details to comment yet. This stance underscores the lack of formal confirmation at that stage of the investigation.
Oddities and inconsistencies
An Izvestia source suggested the jet’s intended route was Thailand – India – Uzbekistan – Zhukovsky in Moscow, raising questions about how the aircraft could have crashed in Afghanistan. Some reports speculated that the Falcon 10 might have deviated to refuel, but others claimed the fuel situation was normal. In addition, the original passenger, a seriously ill woman named Anna Evsyukova, needed urgent transfer to the capital, which may have influenced the crew’s decisions during the flight.
Reports attributed to a PureeEvsyukova case described a severe medical condition, involving blistering skin and multiple organ failure with septic shock, along with cholestasis and pancreatitis. She was placed on a ventilator aboard the jet in a critical state. The diverse accounts highlight the chaotic nature of early reporting and the difficulty of confirming specific medical details in flight. [Cited medical summaries]
There are claims of a possible dispute on board between businessman Anatoly Evsyukov and some crew members, with speculation that the deviation from a planned course could have been a factor. Another theory points to weather conditions, such as a snowstorm, contributing to the crash. Some observers note that Evsyukov did not carry a large amount of cash, and questions were raised about whether any sizable funds aboard might belong to a crew member. If such funds existed, customs records would likely reflect their movement, casting further doubt on the cash attributions. [Multiple unverified sources]
Return of the survivors
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that four survivors of the Afghanistan crash would return to Moscow on January 26. The Russian ambassador to Afghanistan coordinated the transport from the crash site and thanked Afghan authorities for their assistance in the rescue operation. The update reflects coordinated efforts to bring wounded or distressed individuals back home as soon as feasible.
Pilot Arkady Grachev had previously told his father that he planned to return to Russia on January 29, or possibly even earlier. He spoke in a hopeful tone, saying he was fine and asking his family not to worry. Official comments from the crew’s circle painted a picture of cautious optimism amid the uncertainty surrounding the mission. [Personal communications and official statements]
The Falcon 10 crew lost contact on the evening of January 20. The following day confirmed a crash. Two people died in the disaster: Anatoly Evsyukov and his wife Anna. Pilots Dmitry Belyakov and Arkady Grachev and two doctors, Igor Syvorotkin and Pavel Popov, survived. Syvorotkin managed to reach a nearby settlement and signaled for help from local residents. Investigators have cited engine failure as the leading theory for the accident. [Incidental survivor accounts and investigative notes]