A Russian passenger jet, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, crashed in the Moscow region on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of its three crew members. The aircraft, which was flying without passengers, belonged to Gazprom Avia, a carrier owned by the Russian state-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom.
The ill-fated flight took off from an aircraft-making plant at Lukhovitsy, located 110 kilometers southeast of Moscow, after undergoing repairs. Its intended destination was Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, but the plane tragically crashed before reaching its destination.
The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top state criminal investigation agency, has initiated a probe into the crash to determine the cause of the incident.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100, also known as the SSJ100, was initially celebrated as a significant achievement for Russia’s civil aviation industry upon its introduction in 2011. However, the aircraft has faced challenges regarding its safety record over the years.
In a previous incident in May 2012, a Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in Indonesia during a demonstration flight, claiming the lives of all 45 individuals on board. The investigation revealed that the crew was unaware of high terrain and disregarded warnings from the terrain alert system while flying in adverse weather conditions.
Another tragic crash involving a Superjet occurred at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in May 2019, resulting in the loss of 41 lives. The aircraft was struck by lightning and subsequently made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff. The investigation attributed the crash to the pilot, citing that the plane landed heavily with unburned fuel at excessive speed, leading to a rough touchdown that ignited a fire.
Despite initial optimism surrounding the Superjet 100, the aircraft has faced ongoing issues such as malfunctions and high maintenance costs, dissuading many Russian carriers from purchasing it. Russia’s efforts to promote the plane internationally have largely faltered, with few foreign customers opting to phase out Superjets from their fleets.
