The Bombardier Challenger Special Edition bound for Berlin that crashed at Moscow Vnukovo airport last month was unfit for flight. A statement issued last week by Russian federal transport watchdog Rostransnadzor says: "Reports indicate the aircraft took off with a defective steering mechanism in the front landing gear. "
Rostransnadzor has called for more frequent checks of aircraft used for charter operations in Russia, but registered in Austria, Aruba, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. The Special Edition, the corporate derivative of the CRJ100, suffered an engine fire during its take-off roll causing it to overturn.
Source: Flight International
