By Michael Specter
Safe Evacuation of Passengers and Crew
All 89 passengers and six cabin crew members aboard a Sukhoi Superjet 100, operated by Azimuth Airlines, were safely evacuated after the aircraft caught fire upon landing at Antalya Airport in Turkey on Sunday. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Incident Details
The incident occurred when the plane, arriving from Sochi in Russia, landed at Antalya. Following the fire, the Turkish transport ministry confirmed that all landings at the airport were temporarily suspended while authorities towed the aircraft away from the runway.
Emergency Response
Videos circulating on social media platforms show emergency responders tackling the situation as smoke billowed from the plane’s engine. Eyewitness accounts described a swift and coordinated response from airport emergency services.
Cause Under Investigation
Azimuth Airlines stated that the aircraft experienced a rough landing due to wind shear, a meteorological phenomenon characterized by abrupt changes in wind speed or direction. Russia’s Federal Aviation Authority, Rosaviatsiya, has launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire.
Aircraft Information
According to FlightRadar24, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 involved in the incident is seven years old. Further updates from the investigation are expected as authorities work to clarify the circumstances surrounding the event.
