What happened
A flight operated for the Russian Ministry of Defense was traveling from Makhachkala toward Khabarovsk, with scheduled stops at Vozzhayevka AFB and Privolzhskiy AFB. The aircraft was transporting 221 passengers along with a crew of seven.
Approximately 23 minutes after departing from Privolzhskiy AFB, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 6,100 metres when the crew identified malfunctions within the fuel system. Following this discovery, the flight was authorized to perform an emergency return to the airfield.
During the descent toward Privolzhskiy AFB, the crew encountered further complications as the flaps failed to extend. Simultaneously, a fire ignited in the left wing of the aircraft. Upon landing, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the runway limits, leading to a runway overrun. The aircraft subsequently lost its landing gear and traveled an additional 200 metres before a significant fire broke out. Despite the intense post-crash flames that destroyed the aircraft, all 232 occupants managed to evacuate without any reported fatalities or injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced technical issues involving the fuel system during the cruise phase.
- A secondary mechanical failure prevented the deployment of the flaps during the emergency approach.
- An intense fire developed in the left wing prior to touchdown and continued after the aircraft overran the runway.