Fiery Crash of Aeroflot Sukhoi SSJ-100 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport Claims at Least 40 Lives
It began as a routine flight from Moscow to Murmansk — until the sky turned into a nightmare. Moments after takeoff, passengers witnessed flashes outside their windows, cabin lights flickered, and tension spread rapidly.
Minutes later, the jet returned to Sheremetyevo Airport, descending rapidly with smoke trailing behind. What followed was a harrowing crash landing caught on camera — a commercial airliner engulfed in flames, leaving chaos, confusion, and devastating loss in its wake.
Moscow, Russia —
On Sunday evening, tragedy struck when an Aeroflot Sukhoi SSJ-100 jetliner burst into flames during an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. The crash claimed at least 40 lives, including two children, and left dozens more injured in one of Russia’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
Videos taken inside the airport terminal show the aircraft ablaze as it skidded down the runway, black smoke billowing into the sky. Another clip captured a trail of fire behind the plane, likely from leaking jet fuel igniting as the aircraft came to a halt.
Conflicting Reports and Flight Details
Elena Markovskaya, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, initially reported 41 fatalities. However, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova later clarified that 38 passengers survived, suggesting a death toll of 40. The jet was carrying 73 passengers and five crew members.
Aeroflot confirmed via Twitter that Flight 1492 departed Moscow bound for Murmansk but was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a technical malfunction. The airline’s statement indicated that the engines caught fire upon landing, though the exact sequence of events remains under investigation.
Eyewitness Accounts and Emergency Response
Eyewitnesses described the landing as “violent” and “terrifying.” Passengers were seen evacuating down emergency slides as flames engulfed the rear of the aircraft. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, battling the blaze while survivors fled for safety.
Official Response and Investigation
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered the formation of a state commission to investigate the accident’s cause. Early reports speculate electrical failure or lightning strike, though no official conclusion has been reached.
The Sukhoi SSJ-100: Promise and Peril
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 was introduced in 2011 to modernize Russia’s aviation industry. Widely used by Aeroflot and other carriers, it was heralded as a symbol of Russian technological progress.
However, the aircraft’s safety record has been under scrutiny. This crash marks the second deadly incident involving the SSJ-100 — the first occurred in 2012 when a demonstration flight crashed in Indonesia, killing all 45 onboard.
Aviation experts continue to express concern over Russian-made aircraft. “Flying in Russia is inherently risky,” said ABC News aviation analyst Col. Stephen Ganyard. “This jet, built and operated primarily in Russia, has a troubled safety history. This tragedy adds a grim chapter.”
🕯️ Conclusion
The fiery crash of Flight 1492 is more than a tragic accident — it is a stark reminder of the risks lingering in modern aviation. Behind the smoke and flames were ordinary passengers heading home, now transformed into victims and survivors of a disaster that demands answers.
As investigators comb through the wreckage, one lesson stands clear: progress without accountability can be fatal. Until aviation safety standards and oversight improve, the haunting image of a burning jet on a Moscow runway will remain a sobering warning — that in the quest to fly higher, a single failure can bring everything crashing down.