A Russian-made Superjet-100 passenger plane flying from the Russian capital Moscow to the Georgian resort of Batumi on 15 June had its bonnet ripped off in mid-air during take-off.
“The plane took off from (Vnukovo airport) to Batumi, but already on takeoff the passengers experienced a powerful adrenaline rush – a piece of panelling fell off and the engine innards were revealed to them,” the 112 Telegram channel reports.
The aircraft was immediately returned to the airport of departure, where the code “Blue” was announced – an aviation accident in the air, accompanied by an emergency landing.
“The aircraft, having exhausted fuel in the holding area, landed an hour after the alert was declared and reached the car park on its own. Fragments of the engine bonnet were found on the runway,” the Aviatorshchina publication wrote.
Later the flight from Moscow to Batumi was performed by another aircraft.
A few days ago, the Azimut Airlines flight from Moscow was delayed for almost a day. The flight was scheduled to depart on 11 June at 23:45 Russian capital time, but it was repeatedly postponed. At first due to technical reasons, and after the replacement of the aircraft – due to the closure of the airspace for security reasons.
Direct air service between Russia and Georgia was resumed by the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 May 2023.