A UTAir Boeing 737-800, operating Fly UT-579 on August 31st from Moscow to Sochi overran the runway and crashed into a riverbed at 2.57am local time.
The flight had 164 passengers and 6 crew on board and 18 were injured in the evacuation.
The aircraft’s left engine burst into flames and the 737 is damaged beyond repair according to Aviation Herald.
According to AV, the “aircraft was initially vectored for an approach to runway 02 by approach, however, runway assignment was changed to runway 06 due to the weather developing. The aircraft aborted the first approach to Sochi’s runway 06 descending through about 2300 feet due to changing winds (now reported from 200 degrees instead of 60 degrees), positioned for another approach to runway 06 and went around from about 400 feet MSL again due to changing winds, positioned for the third and last approach to runway 06 (winds reported at 2m/s (4 knots) from 060 degrees on tower frequency), which ended in the runway overrun about 30 minutes after the first aborted approach and about 11 minutes after the go around.”
Sochi Airport Emergency services put the fire out.
AV says that the Investigative Department of the Southern Transport Prosecution Office has opened an investigation.
Sadly the airport of Sochi reported one of their workers died asa result of a heart attack while rescue and recovery work was ongoing during the accident.
