🔥RUSSIAN PLANE CRA.SH: AT LEAST 40 KI.LLED AFTER JET MAKES FIERY LANDING IN MOSCOW, LEAVING TRAIL OF FLAMES

MOSCOW — At least 40 people were killed Sunday evening when an Aeroflot jet caught fire during an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo airport, Russian officials confirmed. Among the dead were two children, and several others were injured.

Dramatic video from inside the terminal showed flames and thick smoke pouring from the aircraft as it touched down. Additional footage revealed a fiery trail across the tarmac, believed to be leaking fuel from the Sukhoi SSJ-100 regional jet.

Elena Markovskaya, spokeswoman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, initially reported 41 fatalities, while Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova later stated that 38 people survived, putting the death toll at 40. Airport officials said 73 passengers and five crew members were on board.

Aeroflot announced on Twitter that flight 1492 had been traveling from Moscow to Murmansk but turned back after technical issues arose. The airline confirmed that both engines were burning after landing, though the exact chain of events remains unclear.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a state commission to determine the cause of the fire.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, introduced in 2011, was meant to symbolize the revival of Russia’s aerospace industry. It is widely used within Russia to replace aging Soviet-era aircraft and is also operated by carriers in countries such as Armenia and Mexico.

This marks the second deadly crash involving the model. In 2012, a demonstration flight in Indonesia struck a mountain, killing all 45 on board. Aviation analysts note the jet has a troubled safety record.