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This is a throwaway account because I'd like to see this on the front page, but I don't want to profiteer from a tragedy, so sorry for the sketchy username. I got tired of futzing with it.
While imgur was busy with the christmas selfies, something important happened. A military Tupolev Tu-154 carrying 92 passengers took off from Adler airport to transport a batch of people to a congratulatory new years party for their troops in Syria. Unfortunately, the plane crashed in the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, off the coast of Sochi. So far, there are no signs of survivors. It was carrying entertainers, dignitaries, soldiers, and some form of humanitarian aid.
Amongst the dead were the Alexandrov Ensemble, perhaps better known as the Red Army Choir.
As far as they can tell, there are no survivors. It's been the better part of a day now, so I don't think anybody is going to show up.
I'm not a religious man, but if you're the praying type, pray for them. If you're the charitable type, find out how to help the families. For the rest of you, well...I dunno what you can do. Sometimes tragedies happen and we can't all do something to help.
Going forward, I think there's going to be a lot of hurt to mend and a lot of aid to implement, so if you happen to have the opportunity to help, please do.
Here's a few news articles, and there's already even a Wikipedia article on the event:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/25/asia/russian-military-jet-disappears/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/25/russian-plane-carrying-least-70-board-disappears-radar-near/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Russian_Defence_Ministry_Tupolev_Tu-154_crash
NewCassiusClay
o7
boingboingboingboing
So you mean to tell me trump'll have to find somebody else for the inauguration?
kasaku
The year the music died.
supermancam
Thoughts and prayers to the families involved
boobcat
thinkin of their families
dizzyturtle
I just watched a show about the Pope's Choir last night. If this choir was anything like that the dedication is amazing; RIP.
PlusSizedGentlemanInAnUndersizedGarment
I feel bad for the choir's family and loved ones. This is a tragedy. Support from the U.S.A. here.
BleachItsWhatsForDinner
We definitely need to be better allies with Russia again.
moxymox
GodEmperorOfImgur
People keep forgetting Elizaveta Glinka. ;_; She was on that plane too.
tradbowclaw
Fuck thats awful. I listen to the red arm ensemble on a regular basis. Dang thats sad.
rook57
Oh that's horrible
Jeffsg1
Yes I have some friends in Russia I will be saying a prayer
MrTitsMcGee
The Russian army is a joke. Maintain your goddamned planes
limanoa
A bigger tragedy is that these innocent artists died while going to cheer up (mostly) innocent soldiers fighting for monsters. Aleppo yall.
dizzyplaya
Read about what the Rebels have been doing. There are monsters on both sides. The US is pushing for Libya style ending =/= Warlord Paradise.
hawkIPA
Great post, OP. They were an incredible ensemble. Here's a favorite of mine https://youtu.be/LydK6FZTpPc
hawkIPA
*were, and will be again
SkeletonHitler
Crashing this plane, WITH NO SURVIVORS
Ericht
Will it hurt?
SkeletonHitler
For you
hexster
I got that reference +1
SkeletonHitler
Ah yeeeeeesss Batman, I was born in the memes, molded by it
NotAmused1001
Yeah, literally no one heard about it. You do realize even if it's not on Imgur, life still goes on, right?
PWNDKTHXBAI
Good guy OP - great to be aware of.
teeps42
'Some form of humanitarian aid' was probably just nerves gas for Assad to lay over his citizens.
Zorrodidnothingwrong
Me and other two Imgurian friends watched their show live in November. It was great and they were all so talented and funny. So sad :-(
PWNDKTHXBAI
That's really sad :(
HEXADECIMAL
Now imagine you're on the crew who just worked on that plane...
Johnsky
Did they have an apprentice? Blame the apprentice.
HEXADECIMAL
Yes I have seen that diagram on the wall in a nuclear power plant manager's office.
ireallycantthinkofanythingoriginal
I don't understand how so many people on this site are completely oblivious to current events. Like I just get a notification on my phone.
zacletus
Lack of a national news app? I only have local news on my phone... Which was very busy with keeping up to date with road closures yesterday
ireallycantthinkofanythingoriginal
I live in ireland and got notifications from The Irish Times, The Guardian, RTÉ and France 24. I'd recommend installing one of them.
todspeed
Sad
arcadephucking
Everybody interested in how they sounded should check out Aki Kaurismäki's Total Balalaika Show
HistorySchmistory
I cannot feel sorry for the Red Army choir. How would you feel about Wehrmacht or ISIS choir?
LostLocust
The same? Accidental loss of life is saddening, whether they're quasicivilians or not.
Meowsma
So, @OP, is that your phone number?
hermesneutique
Ugh fucking 2016 WILL NOT STOP KILLING!!
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsTheBabyAteMyDingo
The Red Army Choir are legends!
HistorySchmistory
Legendary commies!
jetflight
If it's any consolation for you, afaik it wasn't the whole choir.
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsTheBabyAteMyDingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA-QVFJVut8
MarcusAurelius3296
Anyone wonder if this could be relation from someone for Russia's role in Syria? Like with the assassination of that Russian Ambassador?
TurtBurglar
From what I heard, that was looked into, and it was not confirmed. It was an accident. The plane was faulty.
WhatzitTooya
I have a weird idea: Lets wait till professional investigators will answer that question instead of speculating on social media.
MarcusAurelius3296
Sounds boring. :/
jetflight
A pity these people died. But am I surprised or shocked? Not at all. The planes they were on was a death trap - old, broken down relic.
briarios3000
Not to mention that this flight would have been a target for any terrorists/freedom fighters who care about Syria.
aFactIsAFact
Yeah well the timing is all but TOO suspicious. This follows the assassination of several Russian diplomats
jetflight
It's not a Russian black op, probably - else they'd be clamoring about terror and would've had a suspect identified before it even happened.
mc6riff
Sigh, I'll get the tin foil again.
GH05TY
I keep track of plane crashes. Every year, at least a couple of military Tupolevs suffer a mechanical failure from poor maintenance.
aFactIsAFact
Yeah but they had enough altitude to glide and at least make a destress call in which non were made
aFactIsAFact
Those planes have 4 engines as well.
GH05TY
More than just engines can fail. If any part of the plane fell victim to metal fatigue or improper connections, it can head straight down.
BloodirnirPoutine
This one had a major repair 1-2 years ago. It was completely rebuild essentially.
Elkarlo77
Nato Codename for the Tu-154 : Careless. Tupolew builded great planes, but they need good maintenance and this flight cell was 30y+ old.
jandeeg
And designed almost 50 years ago.
Whalegod
Most planes flying now are 30-40 years old. Source: I maintain them. Hell, there is a flyable bell 47 in my hanger
GH05TY
"I maintain them." Crucial words there. Tupolevs are generally not kept by countries that maintain them properly.
Elkarlo77
The Tu-154 has even a very good history for a Plane of the 70s, only 50% of accidents compared to others. But higher rate then a 90s plane.
ManOverthrown
Why do we only refer to people as "souls" when they die in a plane crash?
Insomnia297
SOS : Save Our Souls
MantisTobagganMD
It's a carry over from sea-going ships.
fuckingtnuc
I have renewed Cold War feelings about Russia, but it's sad these non military Russians died.
dizzyplaya
You have renewed Cold War feelings because your MSM/Gov't has successfully made you feel that way.
FlyingInABlueDream
No, because Russia invaded the Ukraine, bombed civilians in Syria, threatened to use their nuclear weapons. No need to blame the media.
TheBroz
And yet all this fear while you're at home, drinking warm coffee/tea, and only worrying about your bills and Imgur... This post isn't 1/?
TheBroz
political. Stop pointing fingers at stereotypes and "member the cold war!?" "I member..."
FlyingInABlueDream
Because I'm not being actively attacked, I shouldn't have any concern? To each their own.
ICanSeeForever
And because the Russian foreign minister said we're in a second cold war....
dizzyplaya
Because Obama's foreign policy and Hillary's rhetoric during campaign was all about demonising/otherising Russia using inflammatory words.
dizzyplaya
"Retaliate" "Military" "Hit Back" - Obama FP = shift from War on Terror to renewed hostilities with Russia. Writing's on the wall.
dizzyplaya
Not that I support any war at all, but it has been obvious to me (Canadian) that America is pushing this envelope.
DickDix
They were headed to Syria to celebrate "victory" in Aleppo. Yes, that "victory" you saw pictures on TV
Jacxy
So, I'm not saying "fuck 'em" but what I am saying sounds a lot like "fuck 'em."
gingercatsrule
It has been liberated, so yeah there is a lot to celebrate
ARandomHelljumper
It's easy to liberate something when you blow the area and every single man woman and child inhabiting it to kingdom come with thermobarics.
Voidkom
It's not worse than Syria before Russians got there. At least now there's light at the end of the tunnel.
jmeyers1983
Where?
Voidkom
Where the islamists calling themselves moderates don't hold a vast territory and massive amounts of oil?
DVSBSTrD
I don't wanna say it was karma for Flight MH17, but it was karma for Flight MH17.
grabthembythepussy
Hey i'm not saying it's Karma,all i'm saying Russian Aviation engineering sucks and outdated.
VresiBerba
Get a clue
kowalibear
I'm so conflicted. I don't want to celebrate anyone dying.
JohnnyMaverick
Reagan said "one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" and the sake goes for this. They think they were justified, so: victory.
MisterSokkaWatertribe
Yeah because every single person on that plane was evil and deserved to die so we shouldn't mourn their death... Wtf man
WaneTendo
what a wild misinterpretation
JustABitCrzy
Think you have misunderstood, he meant that it wasn't much of a victory because of all the destruction and death (at least that's how I read
MisterSokkaWatertribe
While I think it was inappropriate for him to politicize the death of these people, I def misinterpreted him and commented emotionally, +1
pointingtheobvious
didnt russia bombed and killed kids in syria?
HairySwedishGroundhog
Just like the US? Yes they did
jetflight
"The USA did it and it's bad, so Russia doing it is not bad." How's the weather in St. Petersburg?
PartyMagician
Well it's not that one day in July, so it's grey and shitty. But what does that have to do with the post?
raidleadergutts
I like how you're upset at someone bringing up how US is as much a piece of shit as Russia that you accuse them of trolling.
HairySwedishGroundhog
I never said it was good, I was only pointing out that the US has been bombing the middle east for over a decade and no one cares in 1/2
HairySwedishGroundhog
The west, then Russia does it and the west is horrified by the results... (And as my username implies I'm from Sweden, not Russia)
jetflight
Russian trolls generally pretend to be from the West. Also, "no one cared"? I don't think you know what you're talking about, considering1/2
jetflight
the immense amounts of flak GWB got for it. And that's without him deliberately targeting schools and hospitals, as Putin did. 2/2
bribeasenator4u
Burn
KuistiPanu
I guess the kids did
ISaidSarcastically
Maybe, but people most likely died from the initial explosion.
ienjoyonionrings
usedhottub
Can we not? People are dead, dude, don't be that guy.
eatyourmeat
This was .6% of the people who die daily. Probably one of the best ways to go
Muad
.. much less than .6%.
JosephDunaravich
People on their way to engage in mass killing of civilians and support those who do died. Don't be that apologist.
whatisthiswholethingaboutlollol
Just as mass graves have been found in rebel held territory, the people who are supposed to be the "good" guys, interesting.
banned10times
no Russia bombed muslim terrorists, murderous and cowardly killers. If they didnt want kids to be killed, they should not have
banned10times
used kids as shields. The MUSLIMS killed the kids by being terrorists and hiding behind them. If you cant understand
banned10times
that, you are a horrible person.
WalkinCrow
Way to twist reality to suit your narrative. Are you one of those russian propaganda trolls?
banned10times
fuck you. if you like the sand niggers so much, move to the middle east.
bribeasenator4u
Who invited this guy?