The flight suffered a loss of control as a result of a malfunction of its elevator, causing it to crash as it made its final descent into Moscow.

At the time of the crash, it was the worst accident in aviation history involving a Tupolev Tu-124 since it entered service with Aeroflot in 1962.

The 'V' variant of the Tu-124 modified the aircraft to be able to seat 56 passengers, instead of the original 44, and also had increased range and payload capacity.

The four doctors were buried in a public ceremony attended by Lithuanian First Secretary Antanas Sniečkus in Antakalnis Cemetery.

Investigators determined that a spontaneous short circuit had caused the elevator trim tab to deflect to and maintain an upward position.