A Gazprom-owned aircraft has crashed in Russia, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members. The incident occurred during a test flight shortly after the aircraft had undergone maintenance. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed about an hour after takeoff in a wooded area near Moscow.
Details of the Incident
The crash happened approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Moscow, in the Kolomensky district. Photos and videos circulating online showed a plume of gray smoke rising from the crash site. Russian news agency TASS reported that the aircraft was on its way to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport when the crash occurred. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched an investigation into the accident, but Russia has shown a bad track record regarding internal investigations.
A result of Western Sanctions?
The Sukhoi Superjet 100, the first passenger aircraft developed in Russia post-Soviet Union, has had a troubled history marked by several accidents. The most severe incident occurred in May 2012 when a Superjet crashed into a volcano during a demonstration flight, killing all 45 onboard. In 2013, four…