MOSCOW - The news of 41 deaths in the crash-landing of a Superjet-100 in Moscow stunned residents in the northern Russian city of Murmansk, where the plane was headed. Improvised memorials popped up at the local airport and main street.
People were bringing flowers, candles and toys to the information desk of the Murmansk airport on Monday. Another improvised memorial appeared in front of a monument in the city center. The acting governor of the Murmansk Region has declared three days of mourning over Sunday’s tragedy.
A Superjet-100 operated by Russia’s flagship carrier, Aeroflot, reported an emergency shortly after takeoff in Moscow, and the pilots decided to return to Sheremetyevo airport. Something went wrong during the landing, however.
The jet bounced on the runway and its rear section caught fire. 37 people out of the 78 aboard were evacuated, but 41 others, including a heroic steward who stayed behind helping survivors leave the plane, died.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the tragedy, with early reports suggesting it began with lightning striking the plane. (RT)