Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov with reference to an unclassified data said that a careless maneuver performed by Su-15 fighter in the clouds caused Yuri Gagarin’s jet to fall into spin. The Su-15 took off from an airfield in Zhukovsky (Moscow Region) and it did not have the authorization to enter the training area, where Gagarinn and Sergeev were performing their flight, RIA Novosti reports.

«I have been fighting for 20 years to be able to tell the truth about death of Yuri Gagarin. It is stated in the official report that his aircraft performed abrupt maneuver connected with a turn-away, fell into the spin and crashed. The crew members died. Rubbish!», — Leonov declared.

According to Alexey Leonov, he was authorized to study secret documents as the member of commission, which investigated the death of Yuri Gagarin.

«In fact, Seregin and Gagarin were performing training flight on March 27th 1968. Su-15 fighter took off from the airfield located in Zhukovsky and performed unauthorized intrusion into the training area. At that the pilot of Su-15 violated regulations and descended to 450 m – I know it’s true, because I have examined witnesses. After that he moved to his flight level using afterburner. He flew close to Gagarin’s aircraft (10 or 15 meters away) making it fall into spin at the speed of 750 km/h. It performed one and a half turns and crashed during spin recovery», — Alexey Leonov said. According to him, this is a true reason of Gagarin’s death.

«My speculations are confirmed by the unclassified conclusion of the commission. It is no secret; it is just a result of violation of regulations. But I am upset, because members of the commission, including Nikolay Kamanin, knew the truth, but pretended that it was not so. I want Gagarin’s family to know the truth about his death», — Alexey Leonov said.

He added: «I was given a chance to unveil the true reason of his death without naming the pilot of Su-15. Now he is around 80 years old and he is in a sorry plight. I gave my word not to tell his name».