Russian authorities have suspended the operations of Moscow-based freight airline Atran following the fatal accident involving one of its Antonov An-12s at Domodedovo airport.

Federal transport supervisory agency Rostransnadzor says it has "stopped the flights" of Atran following the loss of the An-12 on 29 July. It states that, under federal regulations governing certification requirements for commercial aviation, it is suspending the certificate until the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) has concluded its investigation into the accident.

None of the seven occupants of the aircraft survived after it came down and crashed in woodland near Semivragi, 4km (2.1nm) from Domodedovo, after taking off on a domestic cargo service to Omsk and Bratsk.

While the illegal overloading of freighters has been a concern within the country, Russia's transport ministry says that the aircraft was carrying just 9t of cargo - less than half of the An-12's maximum payload capability of 20t.

MAK is analysing information from the cockpit voice recorder in an effort to determine the cause of the accident. The An-12's flight-data recorder was destroyed by fire.




Source: Flight International