All 62 people aboard a passenger jet flying from Dubai to southern Russia were killed when their plane crashed on its second attempt to land at Rostov-on-Don airport on Saturday, Russian officials said.
Russia’s emergencies ministry said the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, crashed at 0340 (0040 GMT). Most of those on board were Russian.
Two Indians – Anju Kathirvel Aiyappan and Mohan Shyam – were also reportedly on board the flight.
Grainy pictures from a security camera pointing towards the airport, which were broadcast on Russian television, showed a large explosion at ground level, with flames and sparks leaping high into the air.
Flydubai Flight 981 had travelled from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don with 62 people aboard, the emergency centre said, according to Russian news agency Tass.
The last flight path of the aircraft was shared by FlightRadar24.
Boeing issued a statement within hours of the crash.
Boeing’s thoughts and prayers are with those on board flydubai flight FZ981 and their families and friends. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance upon the request of government agencies conducting the investigation. In accordance with the international protocol governing aviation accident investigations, all inquiries about the investigation must be directed to investigating authorities.
At least six flights have been delayed, two of which were supposed to fly to St. Petersburg. Others were due to arrive in Moscow. Inbound flights are getting rerouted to Krasnodar.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered for assistance to be given to the relatives of those killed.
“The head of state said that now the main thing is to work with the families and the loved ones of those who had died,” the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.