2024-07-18 03:55:39
Moscow: A Russian passenger jet crashed during takeoff on Friday, killing three crew members in the accident. The plane crashed during a test flight, at that time only crew members were on board the jet. A Russian passenger plane Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in a forest near Moscow on Friday. According to a statement issued by the Russian Emergency Ministry, all three crew members on board the Sukhoi Superjet 100 died. Officials said the plane belonged to Gazprom Avia, owned by Russian state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom.
The plane took off from an aircraft manufacturing plant in Lukhovitsy, 110 km southeast of Moscow, where it had undergone repairs. It was a test flight for post-repair checks. It was heading to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport when it crashed. The country’s top criminal investigation committee has launched a probe into the crash.
Questions are being raised on the safety of the aircraft
The Russian-built Superjet 100, also known as the SSJ100, was introduced into passenger service in 2011. It was described by Russian officials as a major milestone for the country’s civil aviation industry but has a poor safety record. In May 2012, a Sukhoi Superjet crashed in Indonesia, killing 45 people.
Russia has been developing the indigenous Sukhoi Superjet aircraft for some time to replace the aircraft of Western countries. Russia has faced heavy sanctions after the attack on Ukraine in 2022. Due to the sanctions of Western countries, Russia is facing difficulty in replacing aircraft.