Aircraft

Russian investigators state that the Belavia Bombardier CRJ100 which crashed at Yerevan early today inverted immediately after lifting off the runway during departure to Minsk.

Twenty-one passengers and crew were on board the twin-jet. All of them survived but Belavia says seven individuals are still being treated in hospital.

Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) has given initial details of the circumstances of the accident. It says the aircraft cleared the runway during take-off but, immediately afterwards, began rolling to the left around its longitudinal axis.

It rolled 180°, it says, and struck the ground before being destroyed by fire.

MAK says it is participating in the investigation alongside aviation authorities from Armenia and Belarus, with external assistance from Canadian representatives.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news