Russia sentences pilot to six years in prison over 2019 Sukhoi Superjet crash

 

The pilot of the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet aircraft, which crashed in Moscow and resulted in 41 fatalities, has been sentenced to six years in prison. 

Denis Evdokimov, the captain on the 2019 fatal flight, attempted an emergency landing at Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) as the aircraft u-turned from its destination of Murmansk due to an in-flight lightning strike. 

However, as the flight crew attempted to land the aircraft, the Russian-made aircraft slammed into the ground, with the aircraft erupting in flames shortly after. According to a news report by Interfax from December 2019, the investigators concluded that the captain was at fault as “actions by Evdokimov to control the aircraft, committed in violation of the established rules, led to the destruction and fire of the aircraft, resulting in the death of 40 passengers and one crew member”, a report by the Investigative Committee of Russia (ICR) was quoted by the Russian news agency.