Pilot Blamed in Russian Business Jet Incident

A copilot in training and the flying pilot aboard a Bombardier Challenger are being blamed in a report by Finnish safety investigators for the uncontrolled pitch oscillations the aircraft encountered shortly after takeoff on a familiarization flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Dec. 23, 2010. The Finnish-registered aircraft carried three passengers and three crewmembers. Two passengers were injured and the cabin interior sustained an uncategorized level of damage. The aircraft returned to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, where the injured were transported to a local hospital.