Bag grab delays plane escape as dozens die
Passengers film video, take luggage as evacuation ordered
A RUSSIAN passenger plane erupted in a huge ball of fire and black smoke after making an emergency landing at Moscow’s busiest airport, killing 41 people, including at least two children.
Dramatic footage that went viral on social media showed Aeroflot’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft crash-landing and then speeding along the runway at Sheremetyevo international airport yesterday, flames pouring from its fuselage.
Passengers could be seen leaping onto an inflatable slide at the front and running from the blazing plane as huge black columns of smoke billowed into the sky.
Investigators said 41 people had died.
“There were 78 people including crew members on board the plane,” which was bound for the northwestern city of Murmansk, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Eleven people were injured, Dmitry Matveyev, the Moscow region’s health minister, said earlier in the day.
No official cause had been given for the incident, although some surviving passengers spoke of a lightning strike.
The Interfax news agency cited an unnamed “informed source” as saying the evacuation of the plane had been delayed by some passengers insisting on collecting their hand luggage first.
Geoffrey Thomas, an aviation writer and author of Airline Ratings, said it was “extremely likely” the death toll would have been lower had the plane been evacuated quicker.
“What is really concerning here is if you look at the vision you can see them carrying their bags ... and there’s passengers inside taking videos,” Mr Thomas said.
“Clearly this is another situation where passengers getting their bags off, instead of just getting off the airplane, has tragically caused ... people to lose their lives.”
Aeroflot said the aircraft was evacuated in 55 seconds, “compared to the industry norm of 90 seconds”. The jet left Sheremetyevo at 6.02pm and the crew issued a distress signal shortly afterwards, officials said.
Aeroflot said the plane had to return to the airport “due to a technical reason” and its engines caught fire upon landing. Previous reports had said the fire broke out in mid-air.
The jet reportedly managed to land on its second attempt. Television footage showed it bouncing along the tarmac before the rear part of the plane burst into flames.