In Turkey, terror came to Antalya Airport after a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet aircraft suddenly burst into flames shortly after landing. The incident that involved 89 passengers and six crew members aboard the Azimuth Airlines‘ flight has become viral since shocking footage of the fire surfaced online.
The fire, believed to have been triggered by a hard landing that caused damage to one of the engines, rapidly spread across the plane. Passengers were seen frantically running away from the aircraft, screaming in panic, as flames quickly engulfed the entire plane.
#BREAKING: Close-up footage of the Russian Sukhoi Superjet airplane at the Antalya Airport in Turkey. The plane carried 87 passengers and 4 crew members, all of whom have been safely evacuated. pic.twitter.com/xKYlYicwHP
— Target Reporter (@Target_Reporter) November 24, 2024
Despite the terrifying scenes, it was reported that all passengers and crew managed to escape without injury. Antalya Governor’s Office Deputy Suat Seyitoglu confirmed, “All passengers were evacuated without injury, and thankfully, no one was harmed.”
ALSO READ: Digital Art: How One Canadian’s 10 km Daily Runs Led To Creation Of Strava Art | WATCH
As the fire raged, one of the viral videos showed passengers carrying their luggage while fleeing down the emergency slide. This sparked a debate on social media, with many users criticizing the actions of the passengers.
In emergencies, experts emphasize the importance of leaving belongings behind for safety. One user pointed out, “In case of an evacuation, you should leave your bags behind. Oh lord, after I saw the passengers rolling their bags, I will not think about the chaos in the plane.” Another user suggested that passengers who take luggage during evacuations should face lifelong flight bans.
This isn’t the first time a Superjet has caught fire upon landing. In 2019, an Aeroflot flight, also a Sukhoi Superjet, caught fire after being struck by lightning following takeoff from Moscow. That incident resulted in 41 fatalities, with families of victims blaming delays in evacuation due to passengers attempting to retrieve their bags.
The fire broke out in the engine of the Sukhoi Superjet (SU95), which was traveling from Sochi, Russia, to Antalya. According to the Turkish Ministry of Transport, the aircraft made an emergency landing at 21:34 after the pilots reported the fire. Emergency services were immediately alerted, and the situation was contained with no loss of life.
This latest incident has prompted renewed discussions about airline safety and emergency procedures, particularly regarding the importance of prioritizing life over personal belongings during such critical moments.
