Terrifying Incident Caught on Camera
Dramatic footage has surfaced showing passengers fleeing a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 after it burst into flames on the runway at Antalya Airport, Turkey, on Sunday night. The aircraft, operated by Azimuth Airlines, was carrying 89 passengers and six crew members on a flight from Sochi, Russia, when it caught fire during landing, reportedly due to a hard touchdown that damaged an engine.
Despite the alarming scene, authorities confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
Swift response contained the fire
Antalya Governor’s Office Deputy Suat Seyitoglu praised the quick actions of emergency responders in preventing a tragedy.
“All passengers were evacuated without injury, and thankfully, no one was harmed,” Mr. Seyitoglu told Turkiye Today.
A statement from Turkey’s aviation ministry added:
“A fire broke out in the engine of the SU95 type aircraft, registered RA89085, belonging to Azimuth Airlines, travelling from Sochi Airport in 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.”
Footage shared on social media showed emergency units battling the flames, with thick black smoke billowing from the aircraft as responders worked to extinguish the fire.
Social media sparks debate on evacuation behavior
One viral video has drawn sharp criticism from viewers, as passengers were seen taking their hand luggage down emergency slides despite the life-threatening situation.
“In case of an evacuation, you should leave your bags behind!!!!!” one user commented. “This behavior kills people.”
Another viewer wrote: “Anyone who takes their hand luggage with them in an emergency evacuation should be banned from flying for life.”
This recurring issue during emergency evacuations has reignited concerns about passenger safety and adherence to evacuation protocols.
A Troubling history for the Superjet 100
This incident is not the first involving a Sukhoi Superjet catching fire. In 2019, Aeroflot flight SU1492 caught fire after being struck by lightning and making an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. That tragedy claimed 41 lives, with some survivors alleging that other passengers delayed evacuation by attempting to retrieve their luggage.
Investigation underway
Authorities have launched an investigation into the Antalya incident to determine the exact cause of the fire. While no injuries were reported this time, the event has raised fresh concerns over aircraft safety and passenger preparedness in emergencies.
For now, the quick response of emergency teams and the absence of fatalities have offered a moment of relief in an otherwise terrifying ordeal.
