Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has revealed that faulty flight speed data generated due to the sensors icing up could have led to the crash of an An-148 passenger jet.

The information was obtained after deciphering the flight data recorder of the aircraft, which crashed in Ramenskoye near Moscow, Russia, on Sunday and killed all 71 people onboard.

Operated by Russia’s Saratov Airlines, the aircraft took off from Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport and was bound for Orsk.

“During all the other flights registered on the flight recorder, the heating of the total pressure probes was switched on before take-off in its line-up position.”

In its investigative report, IAC said: “A preliminary analysis of the recorded information, and also the analysis of similar cases that occurred in the past suggest that a distinct situation could have developed in mid-air due to incorrect data on the flight’s speed on the pilots’ displays.

“This, in turn, could have been linked to the ice-up of the total pressure probes since their heating systems were switched off.

“During all the other flights registered on the flight recorder, the heating of the total pressure probes was switched on before take-off in its line-up position.”

IAC also stated that approximately 2.5 minutes after take-off, the crashed An-148 jet experienced an emergency situation onboard.

During that time, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of around 1,300m and the indicator speed was between 465km/h and 470km/h.

However, the aircraft’s flight recorders recorded differences between the readings of the speed sensors at that moment.