Russia: Human error, faulty sensor behind deadly plane crash

Human error may be to blame for the Saratov Airlines plane crash that killed 71 people, Russian investigators said Tuesday, noting that the plane's pilots failed to turn on the heating unit for its measuring equipment, resulting in flawed speed data. After studying the An-148's flight data recorder, the Interstate Aviation Committee said that Sunday's crash near Moscow occurred after the pilots saw conflicting data on the plane's 2 air speed indicators. The flawed readings came because the pilots failed to turn on the heating unit. The pilots had placed the An-148 on autopilot after taking off from Moscow Domodedovo but took its manual controls back when they heard alarm signals warning of conflicting speed data. One indicator showed the plane's speed at zero, investigators said. <br/>