The Aeroflot Superjet 100 was flying from Moscow to Murmansk, a Russian City in the Arctic Circle when an emergency on board forced it to reroute. After making an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow, the airplane’s engine caught fire on the runway. The crew evacuated the passengers in merely 55 seconds, said the airline. The comparative industry norm is of 90 seconds.
Jet was carrying 73 passengers and 5 crew members, out of which 33 passengers and 4 crew members survived. 1 flight attendant and two children among the other 38 passengers could not survive the disastrous crash. Five injured are in the hospital.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe into the incident according to its website. The committee routinely conducts investigations into major incidents with loss of life. Russian President Putin extended his deep condolences for the deceased’s families and ordered a thorough investigation.
