Aeroflot has confirmed casualties from the Murmansk-bound aircraft which returned to Moscow Sheremetyevo to conduct an emergency landing.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 was operating flight SU1492 which departed at 18:02 local time.
Aeroflot says the aircraft was “forced to return” to Sheremetyevo “for technical reasons”.
It indicates the aircraft suffered an “ignition of the engines” after it landed. The aircraft came to rest with a severe fire aft of the wings. Aeroflot says the fire has been extinguished.
Moscow Sheremetyevo airport's operator states that the aircraft made a "hard landing", after which a fire broke out.
It says there were 73 passengers and five crew members on board the aircraft, the crew of which "reported a malfunction" and opted to return to the airport where it landed at 18:32.
“There are casualties,” Aeroflot admits. “The number is being determined. Emergency medical care is being provided to all those who need it.”
Passengers evacuated the aircraft through the emergency slides. The airport operator says an emergency control centre has been established at Sheremetyevo while a separate facility for passengers and their relatives has been set up at Terminal B.
The airport is operating with a single active runway as a result of the event.
Aeroflot says an investigation is already under way to establish the circumstances of the accident.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
