A criminal probe has been launched into a Russian passenger jet accident in Surgut in Siberia that killed three and injured 43 people, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Sunday.
The Moscow-bound Tupolev Tu-154 passenger jet was engulfed in flames after one of its engines caught fire as the plane taxied down a runway and then exploded on Saturday in the Siberian city of Surgut. Most of the passengers and the crew were evacuated before the explosion.
The plane, which belonged to the regional airline Kogalymavia, was to fly from Surgut to Moscow.
The regional investigative department said the criminal probe had been launched into the breach of air transport operation and flight safety rules.
Transport Minister Igor Levitin said on Saturday that the plane crew and airport officials had done their best to evacuate the passengers as soon as possible, however eyewitnesses said fire exits had been closed for a long time and the passengers had to jump out of the plane through flames.
Kogalymavia has announced it will pay compensations to passengers of its plane that burned out at Surgut airport.
"The Kogalymavia airline is providing help to passengers of the flight and is ready to pay compensations for health damage and luggage [lost as a result of the accident] in line with current laws," the company said in a statement.
MOSCOW, January 2 (RIA Novosti)
