Aeroflot Flight SU1492 makes emergency landing at Sheremetyevo Airport

Darandio · 5 May 2019

Aeroflot flight #SU1492 has made an emergency landing at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow.

Video here from Twitter showing the dramatic landing. https://twitter.com/dimsmirnov175/status/1125068956644126720

As the BBC article suggests all passengers were evacuated, looking at the video above that seems quite a miracle.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48171392

A Russian passenger plane has made an emergency landing at Moscow airport after a fire broke out mid-flight, state media report.

Videos on social media show passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the Aeroflot aircraft.

Other footage shows the plane landing while on fire and black smoke billowing from it on the tarmac.

Initial reports on Russian media suggest all 78 passengers on-board were evacuated.

It remains unclear how many people have been injured in the large blaze.

The aircraft is a reportedly a Sukhoi Superjet-100 that had been bound for the city of Murmansk.

RailUK Forums

Darandio · 5 May 2019

Now reporting that at least 13 have been killed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48171392

At least 13 people were killed after a Russian plane caught fire mid-air before making an emergency landing at a Moscow airport.

Videos on social media showed passengers using emergency exit slides to escape and run away from the burning Aeroflot aircraft.

Russian news agency Tass said two children were among the dead.

One witness though said it was a "miracle" anyone escaped, which was reportedly carrying 78 passengers.

It remains unclear what caused the large blaze and emergency landing.

The aircraft is reportedly a Sukhoi Superjet-100, and was scheduled to depart at 17:50 local time (14:50 GMT) for the city of Murmansk.

The crew issued a distress signal shortly after departure from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, Interfax reports.

Reports also suggest it did not succeed in its first emergency landing attempt.

Data from tracking website Flightradar24 appears to confirm reports the emergency landing happened about 30 minutes after take-off.

Kristian Kostov, a former Bulgarian Eurovision contestant, has posted on social media about witnessing the incident.

He said people at the airport were left "shaking" after seeing the aircraft engulfed by fire and said other flights are now unable to take-off.

An investigation has been opened into the incident, reports say.

WatcherZero · 5 May 2019

That's why dumping fuel before attempting the emergency landing with no rear landing gear deployed is preferable.

Edit: They've upped casualty count to 37 survivors out of the 78 on board. Bit of usual attempt to manage the story, Carrier initially saying no casualties.

The 4th Rail · 5 May 2019

CCTV appears to show that the plane was not on fire before landing. Instead the plane intially bounces upon landing causing the rear landing gear to collapse. The engines then catch fire upon impact with the runway. Video linked below:
https://twitter.com/bazabazon/status/1125122587598651393?s=09
I wonder want prompted the emergency landing.

Of course, thoughts and prayers to all affected by today's events.

WatcherZero · 5 May 2019

Some Russians speculating Lightning as there was a bad electrical storm at the time, the aircraft had apparently been in the air for 28 minutes before landing and had aborted its first emergency landing attempt.
Russian air traffic control claiming the plane didn't request permission to attempt an emergency landing.

Jozhua · 6 May 2019

Seems like 2019 has been a bit rocky so far, hopefully we don't see many more incidents such as this one as the year progresses...

theageofthetra · 6 May 2019

Note in several photos and being discussed on numerous forums how many wasted time retrieving luggage delaying those behind them getting out. Will be interesting to see the final report on how many of the dead were in the rear of the aircraft. Most worrying is that there are plenty of sources showing that no fire appliances were tackling the blaze until over 90 seconds after the aircraft first started evacuating. I don't think I'll be using a Russian airport or aircraft anytime soon.

Starmill · 6 May 2019

That was very dramatic!

TRAX · 6 May 2019

theageofthetra said:
Note in several photos and being discussed on numerous forums how many wasted time retrieving luggage delaying those behind them getting out. Will be interesting to see the final report on how many of the dead were in the rear of the aircraft. Most worrying is that there are plenty of sources showing that no fire appliances were tackling the blaze until over 90 seconds after the aircraft first started evacuating. I don't think I'll be using a Russian airport or aircraft anytime soon.

It appears no one on the ground was aware of the incident, which would explain the emergency services’ delay.

WatcherZero · 6 May 2019

Jozhua said:
Seems like 2019 has been a bit rocky so far, hopefully we don't see many more incidents such as this one as the year progresses...

Yeah, also two days ago the incident of a charter 737 from GITMO sliding off the runway in the wet and into a river in Florida, the airline was operating the aircraft despite knowing the thrust reverser on one side of the plane was inoperable.

AM9 · 6 May 2019

TRAX said:
It appears no one on the ground was aware of the incident, which would explain the emergency services’ delay.

I think that reports of passengers at the front delaying the exit of those further back whilst they pulled their luggage from overhead lockers will become a big issue very soon. There have been a few emergency evacuations of planes where passengers have disobeyed crew orders to leave without taking luggage, and if some of the deaths in this incident are attributed to those obstructing emergency evacuation routes, there will be a major shake up on all airlines.

Jozhua · 6 May 2019

AM9 said:
I think that reports of passengers at the front delaying the exit of those further back whilst they pulled their luggage from overhead lockers will become a big issue very soon. There have been a few emergency evacuations of planes where passengers have disobeyed crew orders to leave without taking luggage, and if some of the deaths in this incident are attributed to those obstructing emergency evacuation routes, there will be a major shake up on all airlines.

If those passengers had been told otherwise and it is found to have caused the deaths of others further back, could criminal charges be possible?

From what I've seen though, Airlines don't really warn passengers against doing this. An extra 10 seconds on the flight safety announcement could be needed.

AM9 · 6 May 2019

Jozhua said:
If those passengers had been told otherwise and it is found to have caused the deaths of others further back, could criminal charges be possible?

From what I've seen though, Airlines don't really warn passengers against doing this. An extra 10 seconds on the flight safety announcement could be needed.

I've heard plenty of pre-flight safety announcements mention that personal possessions must not be taken in an emergency evacuation. I've never been on a plane where there has been an evacuation though, - gratefully.
A few high profile prosecutions might focus these selfish idiots minds a bit though. It's a tragedy that it has taken deaths to prompt such ction though.

Ianno87 · 6 May 2019

AM9 said:
I think that reports of passengers at the front delaying the exit of those further back whilst they pulled their luggage from overhead lockers will become a big issue very soon. There have been a few emergency evacuations of planes where passengers have disobeyed crew orders to leave without taking luggage, and if some of the deaths in this incident are attributed to those obstructing emergency evacuation routes, there will be a major shake up on all airlines.

Jozhua said:
If those passengers had been told otherwise and it is found to have caused the deaths of others further back, could criminal charges be possible?

From what I've seen though, Airlines don't really warn passengers against doing this. An extra 10 seconds on the flight safety announcement could be needed.

AM9 said:
I've heard plenty of pre-flight safety announcements mention that personal possessions must not be taken in an emergency evacuation. I've never been on a plane where there has been an evacuation though, - gratefully.
A few high profile prosecutions might focus these selfish idiots minds a bit though. It's a tragedy that it has taken deaths to prompt such ction though.

I wonder if something extreme like severe restrictions on permissible amounts of hand luggage, or even locking the bins shut during take-off and landing may be necessary...

I appreciate they may not be as straightforward as they sound (e.g. urgent access to medication, trying to panic open the bins when still locked, etc.)

Even just educating passengers to keep important stuff like Passports strictly in tbeir pockets etc. would be a start...

Peter Mugridge · 6 May 2019

Ianno87 said:
I appreciate they may not be as straightforward as they sound (e.g. urgent access to medication, trying to panic open the bins when still locked, etc.)

Even just educating passengers to keep important stuff like Passports strictly in teir pockets etc. would be a start...

A basic supply of medication for a day or two can go in pockets as well, surely?

It seems to me, looking at the footage, that a lot of those bags far exceed the size standard for hand baggage maximum?

Bletchleyite · 6 May 2019

Peter Mugridge said:
A basic supply of medication for a day or two can go in pockets as well, surely?

It seems to me, looking at the footage, that a lot of those bags far exceed the size standard for hand baggage maximum?

56x45x25cm is surprisingly large.

I wouldn't expect a "massive shakeup" of anything. Maybe a change to wording of briefings (though "leave all hand baggage on board" does definitely feature clearly in easyJet's). But remember (warning: cultural observation; some may find this racist, I would argue it is simply an observation) Russians tend, by and large, not to be the compliant type. If the same incident happened in Germany they'd all probably do as they were told.

Having said that, locking bins on takeoff and landing may be no bad idea generally.

AM9 · 6 May 2019

Bletchleyite said:
56x45x25cm is surprisingly large.

I wouldn't expect a "massive shakeup" of anything. Maybe a change to wording of briefings (though "leave all hand baggage on board" does definitely feature clearly in easyJet's). But remember (warning: cultural observation; some may find this racist, I would argue it is simply an observation) Russians tend, by and large, not to be the compliant type. ...

I think few would disagree with that statement given the current administration there.

theageofthetra · 6 May 2019

AM9 said:
I think few would disagree with that statement given the current administration there.

A valid point which I saw made by a Russian on an aviation forum is that losing a passport or other important documents there is hell for about a year. It's similar in India--remember that flight which was evacuated which was mostly Indian pax & most grabbed their luggage for the same reason. I once attended a lecture on marine safety (just after Costa Concordia) & was told that your chance of survival was greatly affected by the culture and behaviour of your fellow passengers- can't be any different on an aircraft.

Ted633 · 7 May 2019

WatcherZero said:
Yeah, also two days ago the incident of a charter 737 from GITMO sliding off the runway in the wet and into a river in Florida, the airline was operating the aircraft despite knowing the thrust reverser on one side of the plane was inoperable.

Bit off-topic, but there is nothing wrong with operating an aircraft with the thrust reverser inop. All aircraft have what is called a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) which lists all sorts of systems that can be inoperative, sometimes with certain operational constraints, and how long it can be inop for before it has to be fixed (Typically 3, 10 or 120 days). Just because a system isn't working, doesn't mean the aircraft isn't airworthy / being operated in a 'dodgy' manner

WatcherZero · 7 May 2019

Had it been operational however it would have saved the plane.

Ianno87 · 7 May 2019

WatcherZero said:
Had it been operational however it would have saved the plane.

Wow, that was quick work from the air accident investigators. Well done!

ainsworth74 · 8 May 2019

If people wish to discuss the recent accident in Florida can I request they do so in a new thread? This one remains for the horrific accident in Moscow.

oldman · 8 May 2019

This is the timeline from Sheremetyevo airport

18:02 – Flight SU1492 of Aeroflot Airlines departed along the route “Moscow. Sheremetyevo – Murmansk”.
18:12 – The pilot reported to the ATM dispatcher that the crew made a decision to return to the airport of departure due to radio communication failure.
18:13 – The pilot reiterated to the air traffic controller about the loss of radio communication and, in addition, about the loss of automatic control of the aircraft.
18:14 – The Flight Director informed the Chief of Sheremetyevo Airport Shift about the return of flight SU1492. The cause of it, according to the pilots report: the radio communication failure and the loss of the automatic control of the aircraft; the approach and landing of the aircraft in normal mode.
18:30 – Landing on the runway 24L. After landing the fire has appeared.
18:31 – “Alarm” was declared by the Flight Director of Sheremetyevo Airport.
18:31 – Evacuation slides are released, the evacuation of passengers from the aircraft is carried out by the crew.
18:32 – Arrival of the first fire brigade of the Sheremetyevo Airport Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting department (hereinafter referred to as ARFF), the start of fire fighting.
18:32 – Arrival of the second fire brigade of the ARFF, rescue and evacuation of passengers and crew members by the ARFF teams.
18.33 – Arrival of additional 4 brigades of ARFF.
18:35 – Rescuers of the airport’s ARFF entered the burning aircraft.
18:48 – Fire is completely extinguished.

Is it usual in these circumstances for a landing to be 'in normal mode', without fire engines in immediate attendance?

Bletchleyite · 8 May 2019

oldman said:
This is the timeline from Sheremetyevo airport

Is it usual in these circumstances for a landing to be 'in normal mode', without fire engines in immediate attendance?

I believe it was a significantly overweight landing, so that is perhaps surprising. Indeed, questions must be (and no doubt will be) asked as to whether dumping fuel, even if the aircraft had to be flown manually and the whole area cleared to deal with the radio issue, would have avoided the issue. I did read something about it being considered a safety issue to do near a large city, but as Jet A-1 is not highly flammable unless heated and vapourised and would be dispersed over a very large area this also seems strange.

robk23oxf · 8 May 2019

I'm surprised that ATC didn't alert the airport fire service as soon as they got the call that SU1492 would be returning the airport. They would have known that to be returning that quickly it would have been overweight and that the landing gear collapsing or the brakes overheating would be a possibility on landing.

TRAX · 8 May 2019

Overweight or not, just the speed of landing was excessive.

Bletchleyite · 8 May 2019

TRAX said:
Overweight or not, just the speed of landing was excessive.

I suppose it's possible they didn't have control of flaps so had to land fast? But wouldn't that be all the more reason to dump (or burn off) fuel first?

ian959 · 8 May 2019

WatcherZero said:
That's why dumping fuel before attempting the emergency landing with no rear landing gear deployed is preferable.

Preferable but not possible in many short/medium range aircraft as it is deemed not necessary as the weight of the aircraft would still be acceptable for the runway length available.

What doomed this aircraft was the very heavy landing by the pilot, causing the plane to bounce back into the air on landing. There is another video online from the other side of the airfield clearly showing the aircraft bouncing back hard onto the runway.

(around 3:44)

edwin_m · 8 May 2019

ian959 said:
What doomed this aircraft was the very heavy landing by the pilot, causing the plane to bounce back into the air on landing. There is another video online from the other side of the airfield clearly showing the aircraft bouncing back hard onto the runway.

If various systems had been lost, this would have added to crew workload and perhaps even directly compromised the ability to land safely - something like indication of landing gear down?

Bletchleyite · 8 May 2019

edwin_m said:
If various systems had been lost, this would have added to crew workload and perhaps even directly compromised the ability to land safely - something like indication of landing gear down?

If you thought the gear was not down and had no option to go around you would attempt a VERY soft landing.

Aeroflot Flight SU1492 makes emergency landing at Sheremetyevo Airport

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