FULL REPORT OF THE CRASH OF THE PRESIDENT"S PLANE, JUNE 3925From the Kalistani National Department of InvestigationKaliburg, Ananto
Summary:The KNDI has determined that the cause of the malfunction and subsequent explosion of the KNA Jetstream PAC 01, on June 5, 2925 was human sabotage. The sabotage of the jetliner in question led to a structural malfunction which, at the time it was noticed, was already progressed to the point that destruction of the craft was assured. The pilot and crew of the plane was almost entirely blameless in the craft. Investigators, working in conjunction with the Kalistani National Military Intelligence Service, and the the Kalistani National Department of Forensic Sciences in the Department of the Interior, have concluded that the sabateur was Vanukean in Nationality. It is indeterminate whether this sabateur was acting on orders from the Vanukean Government, or as part of a sinister but independent plan being carried out by a faction or individual in that government. The result of the explosion was the immediate death of the President of the Republic,
Elga Mal Bjorksdattir-Carrangus, Foreign Minister Eduardo Francisco Gallegos, 4 members of the aircraft crew and 47 members of the Executive Staff who were accompanying the President on the state visit. Additionally, the sabateur, whose identity was not ascertainable was also killed. He was onboard the aircraft posing as the 5th member of the Crew.
Specific Evidence leading to this summary conclusion:On the Afternoon of June 5, 3925, as the President, accompanied by the Foreign Minister were traveling to Trigunia enroute to a state visit with the Government of the Empire of Trigunia, the plane suffered a critical mechanical malfunction, which led to the overheating of the engines and subsequent ignition of the fuel sources. The cause of the explosion was the ignition of the highly combustible aircraft fuel- No residue suggesting high explosives was found on any of the wreckage. While it is possible that some of this residue may have washed off in the ocean, a situation which would suggest that the plane had been blown up, divers recovered fragments of the fuel tank belonging to the aircraft which show clearly that the fuel ignited in the fuel lines leading to the engines, and then traveled back to the fuel tanks and blew them up.
The source of the heat was the failure of the hydraulic systems which controlled the plane's lift and pitch. Before the plane took off, it was this system which had been critically compromised. There was enough hydraulic fluid to help the plane lift off, and to carry the flight out to sea, but soon after leaving Kalistani air space traveling north, Black Box recordings indicated that the pilot noticed that steering the plane was difficult, and the controls were not as responsive as they usually were. The pilot dismissed these difficulties as turbulence, given that no warning light concerning the failure of the hydraulic system was blinking on the control board, as would be expected in the event of a failed hydraulic system. The Pilot arranged to have a ground crew examine the steering and lift system upon arrival at Petrovgrad International Airport in Trigunia. West of Dolgaria, the low levels of hydraulic fluid made steering the plane more difficult, given the turbulent weather the air convoy needed to pass through as it approached Trigunia. Eventually, the hydraulic system failed entirely as the pilot tried to maintain altitude. Switching on a backup system proved to be a fatal error, as the backup system was not protected against the heat generated in unassisted steering. Ultimately, the back up system also failed and overheated, causing the engine to catch on fire. The fire worked its way back down the fuel line to the fuel oxygen mixture, at which point, the plane fuselage itself caught on fire. In a matter of seconds, the fuel tank exploded causing a catastrophic destruction of the aircraft and loss of all lives on board.
Wreckage recovered from the sight bore this account out as residue of a leaking hydraulic system was identified all over the inside of the wing, and there was significant evidence of fire throughout the right side of the aircraft. Additionally, a section of hose, identified as one of the main hoses in the hydraulic system, showed evidence of being deliberately severed.
What troubled investigators at the outset was why the Pilot's control board did not register the destruction of the hydraulic system. Such damage must have occurred before the plane set out from Kalistan- It must have happened on the ground, in Kaliburg. When looking closer at the available evidence, investigators early dismissed the notion of deliberate tampering with the warning system. However, black box recordings demonstrate that indeed, the warning was being transmitted as required by the malfunctioning hydraulic system, but for some reason it was not being received by the pilot. A fragment of the control board resolved all confusion with regard to this matter. The wires to the warning lights had been cut manually.
At this point, the matter became of interest to the Kalistani National Military Intelligence Service. Various articles of clothing, mostly burned, were recovered from the sea floor. In the pocket of one of these articles, belonging to a mechanic on the traveling crew, contained the following Message, though much of it was burned severely:
Laijtnánt, frjo [..... .....]! Densted srnépukmo!
[........]:
- Oskyu
- Kàtanz [......]
- Hydwas[..........]
- [..... ......]
Lofrkad [..] kaerzi!
-Shlaj[... ..........]
Intelligence officers identified the language as Jelbic, of the dialect spoken in Vanuku, and extrapolated, from the fragments available, under electron microscope, the following translation.
Lieutenant, burn [this note]! No surrender!
[Remember:]
- Oil
- Carbon [filter]
- Water[pressure]
- [Alarm light]
Freedom [is] near!
-Shlaj[kai Eksandrsrmo]
The author of the note has been identified as a Commander of the Vanuku Naval Forces, though in what official capacity the Commander serves is unknown at this point.
This fragment of evidence confirms a Vanukean connection to the explosion. Further, Kalistani AWACS detected, at the site an unknown object which they later determined to be a Vanukean deepwater surveillance vessel. Engine signatures on the vessel, which were picked up by long range sonar buoys belonging to the Kalistani Navy, confirmed this evidence. According to Naval sources, the object appeared on the long range scopes only briefly, directly after the explosion and then disappeared once more. At the time, the disturbance was attributed to the explosion, but closer analysis of the sonar tape bear the unmistakable signature of the engines used almost exclusively by Vanukean nuclear vessels in ultra silent mode. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the Vanukean submarine had anything to do with the explosion- it appears that it was merely in the area on an observation mission, possibly unrelated entirely with the plot. But a connection cannot ruled out. Combined with the message fragment directly implicating a member of the Vanukean Armed Forces, Kalistani investigators conclude that this act of sabotage was directed from and observed by the Vanukean Government.
Remaining QuestionsThese are the things we know today about the explosion. Some questions remain however:
1) We are not sure about the motive for the strike against the Kalistani President and foreign minister. It is possible that this is somehow related to the fact that Vanuku has recently witnessed the rise of a socialist opposition within its government, and it is possible that Vanuku wishes to send a message to its opposition. It is also possible that this was an economic strike against an increasingly successful relationship between Kalistan and Trigunia. One of its allies growing closer to a different regional player may be seen as a weakening of Vanuku relative power in the region. As Kalistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Vanuku, and has never done anything to directly antagonize Vanuku, it seems highly unlikely that this was an act of military aggression against Kalistan by Vanuku. This fact alone leads us to conclude that the sabotage was for more likely the work of a particular independent actor within the Vanukean Government, rather than an action in pursuit of an official policy by the Government itself.
2) We are still unsure how the Vanukean agent successfully infiltrated Kalistani crew services to the point where his or her identity remained undetected. Human error and lapses of personnel vetting aside, the amount of coordination, secrecy, and more importantly money, that must have gone into this operation on the part of its planners must have been significant. It is known that all 5 members of the aircraft crew were thoroughly vetted by state security services, and had worked together as a single unit for the previous 3 years. The infiltration must have occurred before that point, but it is far more likely that the compromised member was contacted at some point after being assigned to Presidential duty by foreign agents and was bought off. In this case, the cost must have been substantial, and the coordination must have considerable.
3) Given the relationship between Trigunia and Vanuku, we are unsure about the implications of this disaster on the foreign relations of Trigunia. This merely remains to be seen.
This report represents the final statement of the Government of Kalistan on the destruction of the Presidential Aircraft on June 5, 3925. It is hereby officially declassified, for full release to the Press of Kalistan and the International Press.