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06th May 2019

At least 41 killed in Russian plane after it burst into flames during emergency landing

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow due to a fire on board

Oli Dugmore

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow due to a fire on board.

At least 41 people are dead after a Russian plane burst into flames during an emergency landing.

The Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet made a hard landing at Sheremetyevo International and a dramatic Instagram story shows the aircraft being engulfed by fire as it travels down the runway.

73 passengers and five crew were on board and it’s believed two children are among the dead. One witness said it was a “miracle” anyone survived.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxFiXAZjTpE/?utm_source=ig_embed

Yelena Markovskaya, an official investigating the incident, said: “There are 37 survivors, 33 passengers and four members of the crew.”

Russian media reports the plane made an emergency landing for “technical reasons.” Its fuel tanks were full on landing and it’s reported the crew decided it too dangerous to ditch fuel over Moscow, having lost contact with air traffic control.”

A distress signal was sent from the plane shortly after take-off at 6.02pm local time due to “malfunctions.”

Aeroflot said the plane’s engines caught fire after landing and that the crew “did everything to save the passengers.”

It has published a list of survivors here.

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