On 24th November 2024, a Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by the Russian Azimuth Airlines caught fire on landing at Antalya Airport. All 89 passengers and six crew members on board were evacuated via slides.
The aircraft with registration RA-89085 was operating flight A45051 from Sochi, Russia, to Antalya, Turkey. However, while landing in Antalya, it encountered the incident amid challenging weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds.
The fire reportedly broke out in one of the engines after the aircraft landed on Runway 36R at 21:34 TRT.
Emergency Response, Evacuation
Shortly after the aircraft came to a stop on the runway, pilots issued an emergency alert due to the engine fire. Antalya Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) teams responded promptly, extinguishing the fire within a few minutes of the emergency call.
Passengers and crew were evacuated via inflatable slides, with no injuries reported. Witness accounts revealed the plane experienced a violent impact during landing, which may have contributed to the left engine leaking fuel and catching fire.
Footage shared on social media shows the aircraft’s left engine on fire with thick smoke billowing from the scene.
Impact on Airport Operations
Antalya Airport temporarily suspended landings until 3:00 a.m. on Monday (0000 GMT). Departing flights were redirected to a military runway. Enhanced safety measures were implemented at the airport, and the affected runway remained closed for inspection and cleanup.
Azimuth Airlines confirmed that a replacement aircraft was dispatched to accommodate passengers after the incident.
Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure highlighted the challenging weather conditions that contributed to the incident. Yellow and orange weather warnings had been issued across parts of Turkey, and schools in some areas were closed due to severe snowfall and strong winds.
“A fire broke out in the engine of the SU95 type aircraft with the registration number RA89085, belonging to Azimuth Airlines, traveling from Sochi Airport, Russia to Antalya Airport during landing. After landing at Antalya Airport at 21:34, an emergency call was made by the aircraft pilots due to the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished by our ARFF teams at 21:36,” said the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
In 2020, an Aeroflot-operated Sukhoi Superjet 100 on Flight 1492 from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport caught fire after a hard landing, resulting in 41 fatalities out of 78 occupants.
While the incident at Antalya Airport ended without injuries, it adds to the series of challenges faced by the Sukhoi Superjet program in maintaining operational safety standards.
Featured Image via Mash