An aircraft operated by Angara Airlines has crashed in Russia. The Antonov AN-24 reportedly suffered an engine failure on approach to Nizhneangarsk airport this morning, and although it landed successfully, it subsequently lost control and crashed into a building. Two people are confirmed to have died.An unexpected aviation disaster today as an Angara Airlines aircraft lost control on landing and crashed into a building. The Antonov AN-24, carrying 47 people on board, suffered an engine failure on approach and lost control while on the runway. The ensuing fire claimed the lives of two on board, and seven people were reported injured.

What are the details?

As originally reported by the Aviation Herald, the Antonov AN-24 aircraft, registered RA-47366, was undertaking flight 2G-200 from Ulan-Ude to Nizhneangarsk in Russia on behalf of Angara Airlines. Upon approach to its destination airport, the aircraft crew reported loss of function of the left hand engine. They were cleared to make an emergency landing.

The aircraft touched down successfully, but as it rolled out along the runway, it took a sudden yaw to the right. It veered off the runway, travelled over soft ground and collided with a building. As a result, a fire broke out.

A spokesperson told Russian news agency TASS that,

“One of the engines failed when the plane took off. The crew took the decision to return to the airport. During landing the plane skidded 100 meters off the runway and collided with the sewage treatment plant, causing the aircraft to catch fire.”

A passenger on board videoed the descent and subsequent crash; don’t click play if you’re a nervous flyer.

The airport was quick to scramble emergency services, which undoubtedly led to the successful rescue of 44 people from the plane. Seven were injured and taken to the hospital. Sadly, the captain and the flight engineer were killed in the crash. One person is still unaccounted for.

Why did the Antonov crash?

While the engine failure clearly played a part in the crash landing of the flight, many planes successfully land on only one engine. A surveillance camera caught the aircraft coming in to land:

Judging by the video of the landing, the aircraft was coming in rather fast. As a commentator on the Av Herald points out, it takes around 3.5 seconds from passing the threshold to reach the second touchdown marker. This is typically a distance of 300m, which would put the plane at around 170 knots, which is faster than a 737-800 would land with 65 tones on board. For a turbo prop, that’s very fast.

The sudden veer to the right after touchdown could be a result of a tire bursting. The fast landing coupled with the hard touchdown could have caused a rupture, making the aircraft lose control. Additionally, engaging the reverse thrust with one engine only operational could have aggravated the swing to the right, causing the aircraft to leave the runway.

A full investigation will, naturally, take place, being headed up by the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC/MAK). Further details will be shared by Simple Flying when this investigation gets underway.

TOTH to Capt737 for information on the speed of the landing