A Sukhoi Superjet 100 was forced to make an emergency landing earlier in the day at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport due to a fire on board, which ultimately destroyed the aircraft on the ground. Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot has confirmed that the fire is now extinguished, Trend reports referring to Sputnik.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed on Sunday that at least 13 people, including two children, died in a fire that broke out on board an Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft shortly after taking off from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow at 2:50 pm GMT. Moscow-Murmansk Flight SU1492 carrying 78 people on board quickly returned to the airport as soon as the fire was identified.
"The investigation currently is aware of 13 killed people, including two children," the official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, said.
The fire ultimately destroyed half of the aircraft. Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has confirmed that the fire has been extinguished.
A commission has been created to investigate the cause and circumstances of the incident, while Aeroflot’s crisis headquarters has been promptly convened, the statement read.
21:35 (GMT+4) Sukhoi Superjet 100 caught fire as it touched the ground at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday, Trend reports citing Sputnik.
A Murmansk-bound Sukhoi superjet, flight SU1492, caught fire during a hard emergency landing, with the Russian Investigative Committee stating one died and four others sustained injuries in the incident.
The plane carrying 6-strong crew and 73 passengers took off at 2:50 pm GMT from the Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, and shortly afterwards requested an emergency landing.
Russian Investigative Committee representatives have arrived at the emergency landing scene.
The press service of the Russian Investigative Committee said that an investigation into the violation of safety rules that led to the death of two or more people had been launched.