Russian Plane Catches Fire During Landing in Turkey

A Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100-passenger plane operated by Azimuth Airlines caught fire after landing at Antalya Airport in southern Turkey on Sunday, according to Turkey’s Transport Ministry.  

The fire, which erupted in the plane’s left engine, prompted authorities to suspend landings at the airport until 3 a.m. local time while crews towed the aircraft from the runway. The ministry confirmed in a statement that all 89 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated. 

Video obtained by Turkish media showed flames and smoke rising from the aircraft’s engine as emergency crews extinguished the fire. Additional footage released by the transport ministry depicted firefighters continuing to cool the left engine with foam.  

Azimuth Airlines attributed the incident to rough landing conditions caused by wind shear, and Russia’s Federal Aviation Authority, Rosaviatsiya, announced it had opened an investigation into what caused the fire.  

While the Sukhoi Superjet 100 made its first flight in 2008, the specific aircraft involved in the incident is only seven years old, according to FlightRadar24.  

The Russian airline industry has struggled to adequately maintain its fleets since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Western sanctions limiting access to new planes and spare parts. Turkey is among the few large, developed nations in the region still offering direct flights to and from Russia, with Turkish airports serving as key transit hubs for Russian travelers navigating global airspace restrictions, especially those traveling to Europe.