No Pinoy casualty in Russian plane crash: DFA

FILE: PLANE ON FIRE. Aeroflot SU 1492 crash-landed in Sheremetyevo Airport, bursting into flames on impact and killing at least 41 people on board, on Sunday (May 5, 2019). There was no Filipino casualty in the crash. (Courtesy of Sputnik via PNA)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday reported that no Filipino was hurt after a Russian plane on Sunday caught fire as it made an emergency landing in Moscow.

“The DFA extends its condolences to the victims of a passenger plane which caught fire after it made an emergency landing in Moscow, Russia on 5 May 2019,” it said.

At least 41 people on board Aeroflot SU 1492 were killed, including two children, after the aircraft crash-landed in Sheremetyevo Airport, bursting into flames on impact, according to the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.

In a statement on Monday, Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta confirmed that no Filipino was among those on board the flight as he sent the Embassy’s thoughts to the Russian people and government.

“We would like to confirm that there were no Filipinos on board flight SU1492 from Moscow to Murmansk which caught fire at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Sunday,” he said on his official social media page. “We wish to reiterate our expression of sympathy to the families and friends who lost their loved ones and pray for the safe recovery of those injured.”

Apart from the 41 fatalities, 14 received outpatient treatment and nine people were hospitalized after the crash.

According to Aeroflot, the plane “suffered an engine fire after being forced to return to the Sheremetyevo Airport due to technical problems.”