MOSCOW, July 25 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine should provide information on whether GPS jamming devices were used in the country on the day the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, said on Friday.
Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian flight dispatchers had allowed the plane to deviate north of its route, moving closer to the zone of fierce battles.
Rosaviatsiya and Russia’s Defense Ministry also remain perplexed why the airspace was not fully closed for aircraft.
“Earlier Rosaviatsiya obtained information, coming from the crews of Russian aircraft, which pointed to some glitches in the work of the GPS navigation system over Ukraine. It is essential that the Ukrainian authorities have not provided information whether GPS jamming devices were used in the country on that day,” Rosaviatsiya head Alexander Neradko told journalists.
Taking into account the fact that other planes were flying over this region when the tragedy took place, it is necessary to obtain immediate comments from their crews concerning the work of airborne and ground navigation equipment, he said.
“This can explain the reason why the Malaysian aircraft deviated north from the scheduled course,” Neradko said.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.
Kiev authorities accuse independence supporters of downing the plane, however the local militia leaders insist they do not have the necessary technology to shoot down a target flying at an altitude of 32,000 feet.
