Plane runs off Moscow runway, catches fire

Rescuers work at the site of a plane that careered off the runway at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings broke into pieces and caught fire, killing at least three people. / AP Photo/Alexander Usoltsev

Last Updated 11:04 a.m. ET

MOSCOW A passenger airliner careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport while landing on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing at least four people.

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Aftermath of deadly Russian plane crash

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Plane crash in Moscow kills 4

Officials said there were eight people aboard the Tu-204 belonging to Russian airline Red Wings that was flying back from the Czech Republic without passengers to its home at Vnukovo Airport.

Emergency officials said in a televised news conference that four people were killed and another four severely injured when the plane rolled off the runway into a snowy field and disintegrated.

The plane's cockpit area was sheared off from the fuselage and a large chunk gashed out near the tail.

The crash occurred amid light snow, but other details were not immediately known.

The state news agency RIA Novosti cited an unidentified official at the Russian Aviation Agency as saying another Red Wings Tu-204 had gone off the runway at the international airport in Novosibirsk in Siberia on Dec. 20.

The agency said that incident, in which no one was injured, was due to the failure of the plane's engines to go into reverse upon landing.

On Friday, the Aviation Agency sent a directive to the Tupolev company's president calling for it to take urgent preventive measures.

Vnukovo airport spokeswoman Yelena Krylova said it had enough personnel and equipment to keep the runway fully functional Saturday. The airport resumed receiving planes after a break of several hours.

Rescuers work at the site of careered off the runway plane at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev

Prior to Saturday's crash, there had been no fatal accidents reported for Tu-204s, which entered commercial service in 1995. The plane is a twin-engine midrange jet with a capacity of about 210 passengers.

Vnukovo, on the southern outskirts of Moscow, is one of the Russian capital's three international airports.

[weathermon]

Very lucky there were no passengers on this plane. Worked at McDonnell Douglas (before they became Boeing) for many years; after seeing what goes into making airplanes first hand, I am amazed they fly with such reliability. They are made by the same types of people that make cars....

[citizen-dave]

They're a lot like pop cans.

[the0racle]

I see. So what you're saying is, anyone employed in the auto industry has a poor work ethic. Same as anyone employed in the aeronautics industry. iE: you

[Gorgor-Gor]

Dash Cam View
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3Zaqi5DwCYE#!

[mollydtt]

I had a round trip from Vnukovo on a Tu Aeroflot plane decades ago. It was the only time in my life that I thought our plane was going to crash. Never again.

[Freestoner]

Red Wing should stick to selling shoes. They obviously don't make very good airplanes.

[the0racle]

Some commenters should review the 'Acceptable Use' policy now and then. It might help guide you to more productive commentary. You know of whom I speak. Yes, you 2. Try to spend some more time on your own comments and less time occupying your selves on flaming others to boost your deflated egos. And stop patting each other on the back. It a very 'small' club.

[retiredWAC]

"Red Wings"? Seriously??? I wonder who thought up that one.

[MLackland]

Part of the plane was made in Red China. Hence the name.

[thechooch1]

Statistically, the Tu-154 has one of the poorest safety records. However, Tupolev 154's chequered safety record owes more to errors than technical problems. For individuals used to Boeing or Airbus airliners, the cabin of the Tu-154 can seem cramped. The impression is of an oval interior with a lower ceiling than is common on western airliners.

The Aeroflot Tu154 is arranged with 3x3 seating, with even less legroom than the most tightly packed budget US airlines. In order to stand upright it is necessary to fold down the next seat forward. The underseat space is dominated by a large round bar, making it impractical to place much of anything under the seat in front of you. The overhead bin is too small for much other than coats and purses. One should plan luggage carefully bearing these facts in mind.

[robin769]

The plane crashed is Tu-204

[Ulgnud]

Those passengers got lucky. Often times it is the resulting fire that kills the survivors of a crash. It looks like the aircraft didn't burn. I'll wait for the qualified investigators to report on what happened. Not the "Armchair Admirals" who know all the details within minutes without any investigation at all.

[Paul_M_Price]

The article said there were no passengers.

[varigdc10]

Russian aircraft are just as good or better than from Boeing, Airbus, or Bombardier. As long as they are maintained properly they are just fine. Some people here make ridiculous comments about things they know nothing about. I flew for years in Tupulev and Iliushin aircraft and never had a single complaint, I would rather fly in a TU-154M instead of a Boeing 727 any day.

[thechooch1]

varigdc10 and onions are just as tasty as peaches, if they taste the same. Trouble is they are old and not maintained. There is a reason that Boeing and Airbus lead the world in aircraft sales, they build quality aircraft. Not the same for Tupulev.

[newtongenius]

Makes one wonder how the Russkie ever managed to beat the Nazis.

[humen0007]

A seemingly endless supply of cannon fodder.

[cptdeuce]

We should have destroyed the Russians when we had the chance; unfortunately, President Clinton had to play it safe because he was trying to politically cover up his affair with a White House Intern. Oh well, diplomacy failure by another Clinton.

[CBSName]

The Cold War ended under Reagan, but don't let that fact get in the way of your war mongering.