Sukhoi Superjet 100 bursts into flames on landing in Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport
2019 is not turning out to be a great year for airline safety.
Russian authorities are reporting that the crash landing of a Sukhoi Superjet at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport has resulted in the death of 41 people. There were 78 passengers and crew on the plane.
37 People have survived.
Initial reports were that only 13 people were killed in the plane crash.
The investigation has just started, but some passengers were reporting that the plane had been struck by lightening soon after takeoff.
The plane also had a hard landing on its secound attempt at landing – bouncing down the runway several times.
The plane was on a flight to Murmansk in the Russian arctic circle, when the pilots reported an emergency onboard. Aeroflot who were managing the flight report that the reason for the emergency may have been an engine failure.
This is the second major crash of a commercial aircraft resulting in death in 2019, the other being an Ethiopian Airlines 737 near Addis Ababa, resulting in the death of all 157 passengers and crew on board.
How safe is the Sukhoi Superjet?
This is not the first time problems with this plane have been reported. During a demonstration flight a Sikhoi Superjet crashed into a mountain in Indonesia in 2012, resulting in 37 deaths. The plane has also had issues with its tail stabiliser resulting in 11 groundings in 2016.
Our thoughts
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who perished, the 11 passengers with injuries and burns, the survivors, and the Airport and airline staff and first responders who have reacted to this tragedy.
What did you say?