The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed on Sunday that 41 people, including two children, died in a fire that broke out on board an Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft after it crashed into the tarmac following an aborted take off from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow at 2:50 pm GMT. Moscow-Murmansk flight SU1492 was carrying 78 people and 6 crew on board.
The official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, confirmed the figure.
The fire ultimately destroyed half of the aircraft. Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has confirmed that the fire has been extinguished.
A commission has been created to investigate the cause and circumstances of the tragedy, while Aeroflot’s crisis headquarters has been promptly convened, the statement read.