On May 5, 2019, Aeroflot Flight SU1492, a Sukhoi Superjet 100, experienced a tragic sequence of events that led to a deadly fire upon landing at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. The flight, bound for Murmansk, suffered technical issues shortly after takeoff, resulting in an emergency return to the airport. Upon landing, the aircraft burst into flames, leading to 41 fatalities out of 78 passengers and crew onboard. This analysis delves into the chain of events, possible causes, safety protocols, and lessons that the aviation industry can learn from this tragedy.

Incident Overview and Flight Details

Flight Information

Aircraft: Sukhoi Superjet 100
Flight Number: SU1492
Route: Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) to Murmansk Airport (MMK)
Date: May 5, 2019
Fatalities: 41 out of 78 occupants

The flight began under routine conditions, departing from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport at 6:02 PM local time. However, soon after takeoff, the flight crew experienced technical difficulties, allegedly caused by a lightning strike, which interfered with crucial communications and navigation systems. Less than 30 minutes after departure, the flight crew declared an emergency and attempted to return to Sheremetyevo. During the landing, the aircraft made a series of hard landings, causing the fuel tanks to rupture, leading to a rapidly spreading fire. Despite swift action, the incident resulted in a high fatality rate due to fire and smoke.

Timeline of Events

6:02 PM – Flight SU1492 departs from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport en route to Murmansk.
After Takeoff – Aircraft reportedly encounters a lightning strike, disrupting avionics and communications.
Emergency Return – The crew declares an emergency and initiates a return to Sheremetyevo.
Landing Attempt – During the emergency landing, the plane makes hard contact with the runway, leading to fuel tank rupture.
Fire and Evacuation – The rear section of the aircraft is quickly engulfed in flames. Passengers and crew members attempt to evacuate through the front exits.

Immediate Response and Emergency Evacuation

As the fire rapidly engulfed the aircraft’s fuselage, the cabin crew and surviving passengers scrambled to evacuate. Unfortunately, the intense smoke and flames quickly consumed the rear section, making escape routes inaccessible. First responders on the ground arrived promptly but faced considerable challenges in containing the fire due to the extensive flames.

Contributing Factors and Root Causes

Aviation experts identified several factors contributing to the severity of this accident, including potential technical malfunctions, procedural oversights, and aircraft design vulnerabilities. The combination of these elements underscores the importance of comprehensive safety measures, from improved design standards to better emergency protocols.

1. Technical Malfunctions and Lightning Strike

Lightning strikes, although relatively common in aviation, usually do not severely impact modern aircraft due to rigorous design standards and protective measures. However, reports suggest that this lightning strike interfered with the Superjet’s avionics systems, affecting both navigation and communication. The incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in the aircraft’s ability to withstand electrical interference, raising questions about the Sukhoi Superjet’s resilience to common in-flight hazards.

Communication Failure: The interference reportedly prevented the pilots from communicating clearly with air traffic control, complicating the emergency response.
Navigation System Impairment: The crew faced challenges navigating back to the airport with compromised instrumentation, complicating the approach.

2. Crew Response and Landing Execution

During the emergency landing, the aircraft experienced a “bounced” landing – a situation in which the plane makes contact with the runway and rebounds before coming down again. In this case, the heavy impact caused structural damage to the main landing gear, which in turn ruptured fuel tanks upon repeated runway contact.

Landing Technique: The crew’s attempt to control the descent and prevent further bouncing may have contributed to a harder-than-intended landing, resulting in critical structural failures.
Training and Preparation: Emergency situations such as this demand precise control and familiarity with atypical landing procedures. Enhanced training for situations involving disrupted avionics and emergency landings could better prepare crews to handle similar incidents.

3. Aircraft Design and Structural Integrity

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, a relatively new regional jet introduced by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, has faced scrutiny for several design aspects. In particular, the 2019 accident raised concerns over the aircraft’s landing gear resilience and fuel tank placement.

Landing Gear Vulnerability: The Superjet’s landing gear may not have been robust enough to absorb the impact of the hard landing, leading to collapse and rupture.
Fuel Tank Integrity: The positioning and design of fuel tanks near the landing gear zone may need reassessment to reduce rupture risk upon landing.

Key Lessons and Recommended Safety Enhancements

This accident brought forward key lessons about pilot training, aircraft design, and the importance of swift emergency responses. By implementing the following safety measures, airlines and manufacturers can work toward minimizing risks in similar scenarios.

1. Enhanced Training for Emergency Landings

Training protocols should emphasize emergency scenarios where primary systems, such as communications or avionics, may be compromised. Pilots can benefit from realistic simulations involving both standard and adverse weather conditions to improve responses to hard landings and equipment malfunctions.

Scenario-Based Training: This should include practice for bounced landings and procedures for regaining control without exacerbating the situation.
System Failure Drills: Drills that simulate loss of communications and navigation would allow pilots to rehearse emergency procedures, familiarizing them with non-standard approaches and landings.

2. Improved Resilience to Electrical Disruptions

Aircraft, especially regional jets frequently exposed to diverse weather conditions, should be optimized to withstand common disturbances like lightning strikes. Upgrading avionics resilience to protect against electrical interference can help prevent similar mishaps.

Avionics Shielding: Enhanced protective shielding can prevent interference with critical systems, ensuring that lightning or electrical disturbances do not compromise essential functions.
Communication Redundancies: Additional communication systems could serve as backups, allowing pilots to relay information even if primary channels are impacted.

3. Structural Modifications for Improved Safety

This incident suggests that certain design aspects of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 may benefit from structural improvements. Enhancing landing gear and fuel tank resilience could reduce the risk of ruptures and improve the aircraft’s ability to absorb impacts safely.

Landing Gear Reinforcement: Reinforcing the landing gear to handle hard landings could prevent structural collapse.
Relocation or Protection of Fuel Tanks: Consideration should be given to fuel tank positioning to avoid ruptures that lead to fires.

4. Enhanced Passenger Safety and Evacuation Protocols

Passenger evacuation remains a critical area for improvement. In this case, the spread of flames restricted rear access, making efficient front access essential.

Cabin Design Adjustments: Aircraft with optimized evacuation routes can help ensure faster, safer evacuations in emergencies.
Pre-Flight Safety Demonstrations: Emphasizing the importance of swift evacuation can help passengers act promptly.

Broader Implications for the Aviation Industry

The Sheremetyevo incident highlights areas where the aviation industry can implement improvements to enhance safety, particularly regarding in-flight electrical disturbance resilience, structural integrity, and emergency preparedness. As regional aircraft become increasingly popular, their design and operational standards must meet the highest levels of safety, especially given the diverse environments they operate in.

Conclusion: Ensuring Future Safety in the Skies

This tragic event at Sheremetyevo Airport underscores the importance of holistic safety measures, combining technical advancements, crew training, and design improvements. By adopting these safety recommendations, airlines and manufacturers can work together to prevent similar tragedies. As the industry learns from this accident, continuous advancements will help create safer, more resilient aircraft for future travelers.