A passenger jet caught fire after overshooting its landing sending it crashing through a fence at an airport in Russia, injuring 18 people.
UTAir flight 579, a Boeing 737-800, suffered a runway excursion accident after landing at Adler/Sochi Airport, Russia.
The aircraft departed Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport at 00:32 hours local time on a domestic flight to Sochi. Weather at Sochi was poor due to the presence of a thunderstorm in the area.
The aircraft descended for an approach to runway 06. At 02:25 flight 579 did not turn onto runway heading but instead climbed to 7000 feet and repositioned for a new approach to runway 06.
This approach was aborted close to the runway threshold, at 02:45 hours local time and a go-around was executed. The aircraft circled for another approach and touched down at 02:57.
It was unable to stop on the remaining runway and overran. The aircraft crashed through a fence and came to rest on a dry and rocky surface in a river bed. Eighteen passengers were injured. The aircraft sustained serious damage.
The airport shift supervisor, who was one of the first responders to the accident, died of a heart attack at the scene
Russia’s Health Ministry said 18 people were injured in the incident, including three children.
Early reports said six people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, and four were treated for burns.
Russia Today reported that although there were no deaths from the fire, one Sochi airport employee died of a heart attack while responding to the incident.
The plane’s 164 passengers and six crew members were all evacuated.
