At least 41 people killed in Russian passenger plane fire

TIL Desk/World/Moscow/ At least 41 people were killed after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Videos on social media show passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the burning Aeroflot aircraft. Two children and a flight attendant were among the dead, Russian media reported.

One witness said it was a “miracle” anyone escaped the jet, which was carrying 78 passengers and five crew. Veronika Skvortsova, head of Russia’s ministry of health, said in a statement that six patients are in hospital – three of whom are in a critical condition.

Aeroflot, Russia’s national carrier, said the plane was forced to return to the airport “for technical reasons”, but did not elaborate. The aircraft, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, departed Sheremetyevo airport at 6.02 p.m. for the city of Murmansk.

The crew issued a distress signal when “malfunctions” occurred shortly after departure. After making an emergency landing at the airport, the plane’s engines caught fire on the runway, Aeroflot said in a statement.