ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A flydubai flight from its home base crashed
as the pilot tried to make a second attempt at landing in poor weather
in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, reportedly killing all 62
passengers and crew.
Flight FZ981 hit the ground short of the runway and exploded, according to news reports from Russia.
“Flydubai regrets to confirm that flight FZ981 crashed on landing and that fatalities have been confirmed as a result of this tragic accident,” the budget airline said in its first comments to the media.
The Doha-based Al Jazeera news network quoted a Russian investigative committee confirming that there were 62 people aboard, saying there were no survivors.
"The aircraft hit the ground and broke into pieces," the Committee said, Al Jazeera reported. "According to preliminary data, there were 55 passengers aboard and 7 crew members. They all died."
Russian news reports said the pilot had abandoned a first attempt at landing due to poor visibility. It was making a second approach when it ploughed into the ground, about 50-100 meters short of the runway. The crash took place at 10:28 pm local time, or 4:50 a.m. Saturday Dubai time.
The plane reportedly circled in the sky for two hours between the first and second attempts at landing.
Flydubai, which began operations in 2009, flies a fleet of 50 Boeing 737-300s. Its destinations include Erbil in the Kurdistan Region.
In January 2015, a flydubai jet was shot at while approaching the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, lightly injuring two passengers.
Flydubai is Dubai’s budget airline.
Flight FZ981 hit the ground short of the runway and exploded, according to news reports from Russia.
“Flydubai regrets to confirm that flight FZ981 crashed on landing and that fatalities have been confirmed as a result of this tragic accident,” the budget airline said in its first comments to the media.
The Doha-based Al Jazeera news network quoted a Russian investigative committee confirming that there were 62 people aboard, saying there were no survivors.
"The aircraft hit the ground and broke into pieces," the Committee said, Al Jazeera reported. "According to preliminary data, there were 55 passengers aboard and 7 crew members. They all died."
Russian news reports said the pilot had abandoned a first attempt at landing due to poor visibility. It was making a second approach when it ploughed into the ground, about 50-100 meters short of the runway. The crash took place at 10:28 pm local time, or 4:50 a.m. Saturday Dubai time.
The plane reportedly circled in the sky for two hours between the first and second attempts at landing.
Flydubai, which began operations in 2009, flies a fleet of 50 Boeing 737-300s. Its destinations include Erbil in the Kurdistan Region.
In January 2015, a flydubai jet was shot at while approaching the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, lightly injuring two passengers.
Flydubai is Dubai’s budget airline.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment