Four Dead in Crash Landing at Moscow Airport
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — A Russian-made passenger plane crashed upon landing at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on Saturday, killing at least four people, according to Russia’s Interior Ministry.
The plane, owned and operated by the discount carrier Red Wings, had reportedly just flown in from the Czech Republic.
Russian news reports offer differing accounts, with some saying the plane was flying in for repairs and others that it had just dropped off passengers and was flying back.
The plane was carrying between eight to 12 people, according to differing Russian news reports. All were reportedly crew members. The pilot and co-pilot were among the dead, according to the Interfax news agency. Several others on board were also reportedly seriously injured.
The TU-204 plane was reportedly on its second landing attempt around 4:35 p.m. local time, when it overshot the runway and skidded up to the edge of a major highway. There it broke into three big pieces and caught fire.
According to Gazeta.ru, a statement from the Parbudice airport in the Czech Republic where the plane took off, said the plane had been properly inspected prior to takeoff and no problems were found.
All air traffic for Vnukovo airport has been diverted to Moscow’s Sheremedevo airport.
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