A tourist jet carrying 321 people in Thailand burst into flames after its tires blew before takeoff, prompting the pilot to immediately stop the journey.
In the situation, 309 passengers and 12 crew members were offloaded from a Russian vacation plane in Phuket, Thailand, and forced to wait for a replacement aircraft.
Images and video depicted the Boeing 767-306ER being struck by a quick fire caused by an engine surge.
There were reports of a “loud bang” during the emergency takeoff.
According to reports, the landing gear caught fire on the same right side of the aircraft as it aborted takeoff.
During takeoff from Phuket, Thailand, the engine of a Russian tourist plane carrying 321 people burst into flames when its tyres blew.
Passengers took horrifying images and video of the Boeing 767-306ER engulfed in flames during a ‘engine surge’
Following severe Western sanctions over Vladimir Putin’s conflict in Ukraine, it is suspected that Russian airlines are cutting corners on safety and operating aging planes without necessary maintenance.
This Azur Air-operated, 26-year-old aircraft was en route from Phuket International Airport to Moscow when the incident occurred.
On board the aircraft were families of men hiding from Putin’s mobilization order.
Some had left their soldiers in Thailand – viewed as a ‘friendly’ country by Russia – amid worries of a fresh round of conscription.
Other men returned to Russia after running out of money, despite the fact that they feared being mobilized in a fresh forced recruiting campaign and sent to the front.
The photographs and video demonstrate the terrifying twin problems on the 321-passenger aircraft.
According to a statement from the Russian airline, “technical specialists have already begun working to correct the malfunctions.”
While waiting to depart for Moscow, passengers of flight ZF-3604 will be provided with a hotel, hot meals, and soft beverages.
Due to the mishap involving an Azur Air aircraft, Russian vacationers were delayed.
Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport Alexander Neradko said: ‘I am certain that it has not gotten more unsafe to fly – and it has nothing to do with the existence or absence of original spare parts’
Passengers were informed that they will now board a replacement aircraft on Sunday.
“The vacation continues,” an individual wrote.
A passenger told Izvestia that the initial takeoff was normal.
Then, however, there was a rush and I heard crackling.
‘When passengers left the jet, it was evident that the landing gear of the aircraft was damaged.’
According to one source, the plane was about to take off at 120 mph when issues emerged.
On Wednesday, a senior Russian aviation official stated that Western-made aircraft, which are not currently in use in Russia due to sanctions, can be utilized until 2030.
Alexander Neradko, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport, stated, “I am confident that flying has not become more dangerous, and this has nothing to do with the presence or absence of original spare parts.”
He requested that people stop referring to the practice of taking spare components from other airplanes to keep jets in Russia airborne as “cannibalism.”
“It appeared at the behest of those who have never worked in civil aviation and are unaware that the practice of exchanging serviceable spare parts from jet to jet has always been widespread, even during Soviet times,” he stated.
»Engine erupts in flames on tourist plane carrying 321 people in Thailand«