ATHENS, August 21 (RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky) - Loss of cabin pressure caused the Aug. 14 Boeing-737 airliner crash near Athens, Macedonian Press Agency reported Sunday citing the results of lab tests of the aircraft's "black boxes".
According to the agency, gradual loss of cabin pressure in combination with electric failure caused by scarce ventilation was what made the plane go out of control.
A lack of oxygen incapacitated the pilots. During the last seconds of the flight somebody, most likely flight attendant Andreas Prodromou, tried to assume control of the airliner. He may have managed to use a walk-around oxygen cylinder in the cabin.
However, the official results of the lab tests have not yet been announced.
The Helios Airways plane crashed into a mountainous region to the north of Athens last Sunday, killing all the 115 passengers and six crew on board.
