Airliner Crash in Russia

By Douglas V. Gibbs

A developing story in Russia currently tells us that 61 souls aboard an airliner are reported dead after the plane crashed during the 737's landing (its second attempt to land) at the Rostov-on-Don airport in southern Russia.  The proximity of the crash near Muslim countries, and the fact that the flight was originally from Dubai made this writer wonder if terrorism was somehow associated.  The evidence, so far, however, says otherwise.

The plane was carrying 55 passengers and six crew members.  Investigators say that terrorism was not a cause of the crash, blaming weather conditions as the likely culprit.  Weather was the reason for the landing attempt being the second attempt.  The pilot had circled the airport, waiting for the weather to clear before reattempting to land, but the aircraft's tail had clipped the runway.  Winds were reported to have been 60 mph at the time of the crash.

Most of those aboard the crashed plane were local residents, though it is believed that three foreigners were also on board.

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Airliner crashes in Russia; 61 aboard reported dead - CNN