Updated May 6, 2019 - World

Moscow plane fire: What you need to know about the fatal Aeroflot crash

Rebecca Falconer

A passenger plane is seen on fire during its emergency landing in Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia. — The Aeroflot plane on fire during its emergency landing in Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. Photo: Xinhua/Sergei via Getty Images

At least 41 people died after a plane operated by Russian airline Aeroflot burst into flames during an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow Sunday, investigators said.

The latest: The Sukhoi SSJ100 was carrying 73 passengers and 5 crew members when it landed and sped down a runway, billowing huge flames and black smoke. Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Yelena Markovskaya told state-run news agency Tass that 37 people had survived, including 4 crew members. Aeroflot published a list of survivors.

[A] commission has been established to investigate the causes and circumstances of the incident."

— Aeroflot statement

Details: The plane had taken off from Moscow toward the northwest Russian city of Murmansk when it was forced to turn around because of "technical reasons," Aeroflot said in a statement. Investigators had yet to determine the cause of the crash, but some passengers said lightning struck the plane after takeoff, per Reuters.

The Russian Investigative Committee said investigators would soon begin interviewing crash survivors, witnesses, airport staff, Aeroflot and others responsible for the operation of the aircraft. "Required technical documentation will be examined," it said in a statement.

Add Axios on Google

Moscow plane fire: What you need to know about the fatal Aeroflot crash

What to read next