Dramatic footage captures plane on fire as tyres explode during take-off
A plane erupted in a fire before its tyres exploded during takeoff, forcing the pilot to abruptly abort the departure.
321 frightened people on board a Russian tourist plane that was about to initiate a flight from Phuket International Airport in Thailand witnessed the emergency.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows flames bursting from an engine on the right side of the aircraft before takeoff was stopped.
Some said they heard a 'loud bang' during the incident, after which the 309 passengers and 12 crew were offloaded and forced to await another aircraft.
It comes amid suspicions that Russian airlines are cutting corners with safety and seeking to operate ageing aircraft without proper maintenance following tough Western sanctions over Vladimir Putin ’s war in Ukraine.,
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The plane's engine caught fire before its tyres exploded (social media/e2w)
Takeoff was aborted and all passengers were offloaded (social media/e2w)The 26-year-old Boeing 767-306ER, operated by Russia's largest Charter airline, Azur Air was en route from Phuket International Airport to Moscow when it was hit by the drama.
Passengers on board included families of men hiding from Putin's mobilisation decree.
Some had left their men in Thailand - seen as a “friendly” country by Russia - amid suspicions of a new round of conscription.
Other men were returning to Russia after running out of money, despite the fear they could be mobilised in a feared new forced recruitment drive and sent to the front.
Footage from the takeoff emergency shows flames bursting from one of the engines (Igor Zhorov)
309 passengers had to wait for another aircraft (M24/east2west news)The images and footage show the frightening twin problems on the plane.
“Airline technical specialists have already started work to eliminate the malfunctions,” said a statement from the Russian airline.
“Passengers of flight ZF-3604 will be provided with a hotel, hot meals and soft drinks while waiting for departure to Moscow.”
Passengers were told they would now fly on Sunday on a replacement aircraft.
The pilot of the Boeing 767-306ER, operated by Azur Air had to abort takeoff (M24/east2west news)“The vacation continues,” one posted.
“At first the takeoff was normal,” a passenger told Izvestia.
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“But then there was a surge and I heard the sound of crackling.
“When passengers left the plane, it was clear that the landing gear of the aircraft was damaged.”
One report said the plane had been close to taking off at 120mph when problems arose.
On Wednesday a top Russian aviation official said Western-made airliners - which are not undergoing normal service in Russian currently due to sanctions - can be used until 2030.
Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport, Alexander Neradko said there is no danger (FAVT/e2w)"I am confident that it has not become more dangerous to fly - and it has nothing to do with the presence or absence of original spare parts,” said Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport, Alexander Neradko.
He demanded that people stop describing as “cannibalisation” for the way planes are being kept flying in Russia by using spare parts from other aircraft.
"It appeared at the behest of those who have never worked in civil aviation and who are unaware of the fact that the practice of interchanging serviceable spare parts from jet to jet has always been widespread, even during the Soviet times,” he claimed.
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