Prosecutor blames pilot error for Ukraine crash

Pilot error and irresponsible planning are being blamed for the Ukrainian air show crash that killed 83 spectators.

The nation's top prosecutor says the Su-27 had been flying too low before the crash in Lviv and organisers should not have allowed stunts to be performed directly over spectators.

He says mechanical failure of the 15-year-old plane and terrorism are also being investigated as possible causes.

General Sviatoslav Piskun says the two pilots had originally been planning to use another Su-27 for the show but it was replaced at the last minute.

"As of now we may surely say that it was military negligence," he said in the capital Kiev. "Also there were signs of criminal actions by pilots. They used this vehicle incorrectly."

Ukraine's air force commander and a top officer have been arrested, the plane's two pilots are under investigation and the country's defence minister has submitted his resignation because of the crash.

A total of 83 people were killed, including 23 children, and 116 were injured, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry. Seventy-two bodies have been identified so far.

A funeral service has already been held for Oleh Shcherbynin, who had been watching the show with four friends.

Overcome by grief, his mother had to leave 15 minutes into the Greek Catholic service. A young female relative fainted.