Russian investigators recover flight records and 10 bodies from Prigozhin’s crashed jet

The Russian Investigative Committee said on Friday that it had recovered 10 bodies from the scene of the plane crash that presumably killed Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Genetic testing is being carried out to identify the deceased, the agency said in a statement. Investigators also said they had recovered the flight records from the destroyed aircraft. A detailed inspection of the scene of the crash is reportedly ongoing.

Earlier on Friday, state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the wreckage of Prigozhin’s plane was being removed from the crash site.

A private jet belonging to Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin crashed in Russia’s Tver region on August 23, killing all 10 people on board. According to Russia’s aviation authorities, Prigozhin himself was listed on the passenger manifest, along with the Wagner Group’s first commander and namesake Dmitry Utkin (callsign “Wagner”).

Following the crash, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened an investigation under Article 263 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which concerns the violation of traffic safety regulations and operation of air transport.