Investigators probing the crash of the FlyDubai passenger jet in Russia have released images of the plane’s badly damaged black boxes which could provide vital clues as to why the plane went down.

The investigating group, which will comprise experts from several different countries, is set to consider two possibilities – either the crash was caused by pilot error in poor weather conditions, or was the fault of a mechanical problem.

Pilot Aristos Sokratous’s actions have been called into question in the hours following the explosion in Rostov-on-Don amid reports he ignored warnings about deadly turbulence.

However, investigators remain open to the possibility mechanical faults could be to blame, despite the aircraft last being inspected as recently as January 21.

Experts have now begun stripping and assessing the so-called black boxes – which are in fact coloured orange – in the hopes of gleaning clues about the doomed flight’s final moments.

Read more about the accident and see the footage here.

Read more about the different versions what caused the accident here.