Russia’s second largest Superjet 100 operator drops the plane, cancels new purchase

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Russian regional carrier Yamal Airlines has announced its decision to cancel a planned purchase of 10 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft, a day after one of the jets, operated by Aeroflot, crash-landed and burst into flames at Moscow’s airport.

Yamal announced its decision after Russia’s transport minister declined to ground the aircraft in response to Sheremetyevo Airport accident.

A Superjet 100 belonging to Aeroflot crash-landed in a blaze of fire and smoke at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on Sunday. The plane had departed Sheremetyevo for Murmansk, but pilots declared an emergency on board and returned to Moscow, with the plane bursting into flames upon a hard landing. A total of 40 passengers and one crew member died in the tragedy.

Yamal operates 15 of the planes, and is Russia’s second-largest Superjet 100 operator after national flag carrier Aeroflot.

Yamal Airlines’ said that the decision to drop the plane was not connected to Sunday’s disaster. General Director Vasily Kryuk said that servicing costs on the narrow-body Superjet 100 are too high.