SU1492 returns to SVO and catches fire 05/05/19
May 6, 2019, 2:37 pm
#62
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Account from the man in 10F who filmed - via google translate
https://v1.ru/text/gorod/66079222/
"- Everyone was in a panic. It turns out we went skid. The plane turned counterclockwise, and all this incoming air flow went to the burning wing and engine, blowing fire on the hull. Began to heat up and smoke the lining inside. Literally, five seconds before they stopped, I felt gusts of flame behind me."
"Before the plane stopped, everyone sat. Only then they got up and hurried to the exit. Grabbed a passport, moved to the aisle. Three or four people missed. And as I felt the heat behind me, I began to move myself.
- I did not turn around, did not look back. Why? I do not know. I took two or three steps. There was still light gray smoke. Caustic, of course. But he could still run. But all of a sudden, everything was filled with thick black smoke. It was impossible to breathe. He fell to the chairs, below where there was no swaddling, took two deep breaths, held his breath, and began to move toward the exit. There, the black shroud abruptly ended, and there were two flight attendants who helped navigate during the evacuation."
"- The girls were in the cabin to the last. And when they left the board, two or three more people got out or crawled out after them. They simply unconsciously rolled down the ladder, they were lifted, dragged from the burning plane. It seemed that it all lasted a few moments. And it took a full two minutes since the burning began."
"- The fact that the evacuation was hampered by those who reached for hand luggage - I think this is complete nonsense. You can even see from the video - if anyone had a carry-on luggage, it was small. Handbags, backpacks are small. Although it is an instinct - documents grab. Many in general without anything jumped out. I saw it myself. A man of about forty years old was probably wearing only socks. Without a phone, without documents, without anything at all. Just jumped out. To someone until the last stretched things, hindering the passage, I will not speak. I have not seen this."
And according to this someone in 18A made it out
https://static.ngs.ru/news/99/previe...a17822_739.jpg
https://v1.ru/text/gorod/66079222/
"- Everyone was in a panic. It turns out we went skid. The plane turned counterclockwise, and all this incoming air flow went to the burning wing and engine, blowing fire on the hull. Began to heat up and smoke the lining inside. Literally, five seconds before they stopped, I felt gusts of flame behind me."
"Before the plane stopped, everyone sat. Only then they got up and hurried to the exit. Grabbed a passport, moved to the aisle. Three or four people missed. And as I felt the heat behind me, I began to move myself.
- I did not turn around, did not look back. Why? I do not know. I took two or three steps. There was still light gray smoke. Caustic, of course. But he could still run. But all of a sudden, everything was filled with thick black smoke. It was impossible to breathe. He fell to the chairs, below where there was no swaddling, took two deep breaths, held his breath, and began to move toward the exit. There, the black shroud abruptly ended, and there were two flight attendants who helped navigate during the evacuation."
"- The girls were in the cabin to the last. And when they left the board, two or three more people got out or crawled out after them. They simply unconsciously rolled down the ladder, they were lifted, dragged from the burning plane. It seemed that it all lasted a few moments. And it took a full two minutes since the burning began."
"- The fact that the evacuation was hampered by those who reached for hand luggage - I think this is complete nonsense. You can even see from the video - if anyone had a carry-on luggage, it was small. Handbags, backpacks are small. Although it is an instinct - documents grab. Many in general without anything jumped out. I saw it myself. A man of about forty years old was probably wearing only socks. Without a phone, without documents, without anything at all. Just jumped out. To someone until the last stretched things, hindering the passage, I will not speak. I have not seen this."
And according to this someone in 18A made it out
https://static.ngs.ru/news/99/previe...a17822_739.jpg
Whether this is true or whether this is just the internet playing vigilantes, a number of news articles are now singling out (and fat-shaming) one man who was seen leaving the plane with his bag. He was in 10C, and almost no one seated behind him made it out, so he's attracting blame for some of those deaths.
That aside, the same guy also apparently demanded a refund and spent 40 minutes unsuccessfully arguing for it, before leaving the airport and telling reporters on the way out that Aeroflot "consists of heartless and unprofessional people". He also declined to stop and speak to the media, heading outside to an ambulance while saying "My blood pressure is 200/120 and I have arrhythmia. I cannot stop. I want to live." Though apparently his life was second to trying to get his money back.
Last edited by javabytes; May 6, 2019 at 2:48 pm
May 6, 2019, 3:15 pm
#63
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Locking overhead bins would be highly advisable. It would save lives.
May 6, 2019, 3:24 pm
#64
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May 6, 2019, 3:26 pm
#65
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In the short time after an accident it's critical to avoid both the quick hit of confirmation bias and poor sources of information. As in so many cases, the resulting investigation usually contradicts every fierce debater on the internet; Russia unfortunately does not lend itself to transparency in many matters, which feeds the loony toons conspiracy angle.
The videos and witness testimony doubtless will be useful in assisting with the investigation, but won't be the only source thankfully.
May 6, 2019, 3:52 pm
#66
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May 6, 2019, 3:54 pm
#67
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.....and the locks will sometimes malfunction after a normal landing or a power tripping FA could keep the bins locked throughout the flight, or.....
May 6, 2019, 4:20 pm
#68
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The overweight man who reportedly exited the aircraft with his bag and then demanded an immediate refund of his airfare, complaining about the airline's poor response to his demand is quite a contrast to the brave FAs including Maxim Moissev who lost his.
He is most likely one of the most hated people in Russia today. I hope for his sake that his actions were incorrectly described.
He is most likely one of the most hated people in Russia today. I hope for his sake that his actions were incorrectly described.
May 6, 2019, 4:22 pm
#69
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The overweight man who reportedly exited the aircraft with his bag and then demanded an immediate refund of his airfare, complaining about the airline's poor response to his demand is quite a contrast to the brave FAs including Maxim Moissev who lost his.
He is most likely one of the most hated people in Russia today. I hope for his sake that his actions were incorrectly described.
He is most likely one of the most hated people in Russia today. I hope for his sake that his actions were incorrectly described.
Is it known whether the guy with the bag is a Russian national or a foreign visitor?
May 6, 2019, 4:34 pm
#70
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May 6, 2019, 4:43 pm
#71
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From the purported seat map referenced above (https://static.ngs.ru/news/99/previe...a17822_739.jpg), which admittedly could be completely fabricated, it seems like all the names are Russian. That might be a complete red herring though...
May 6, 2019, 4:53 pm
#72
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The person in 15F (RIP) has an Anglo-saxon name. JH Brooks. The one in 8F (injured) a nordic-like name: Grinberg.
Can't see any other obvious foreign names but will leave for a proper Russian speaker to confirm.
May 6, 2019, 5:08 pm
#73
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The flight attendant at the front of the plane has apparently stated the opposite - that passengers did slow down the evacuation by trying to retrieve bags.
Whether this is true or whether this is just the internet playing vigilantes, a number of news articles are now singling out (and fat-shaming) one man who was seen leaving the plane with his bag. He was in 10C, and almost no one seated behind him made it out, so he's attracting blame for some of those deaths.
That aside, the same guy also apparently demanded a refund and spent 40 minutes unsuccessfully arguing for it, before leaving the airport and telling reporters on the way out that Aeroflot "consists of heartless and unprofessional people". He also declined to stop and speak to the media, heading outside to an ambulance while saying "My blood pressure is 200/120 and I have arrhythmia. I cannot stop. I want to live." Though apparently his life was second to trying to get his money back.
Whether this is true or whether this is just the internet playing vigilantes, a number of news articles are now singling out (and fat-shaming) one man who was seen leaving the plane with his bag. He was in 10C, and almost no one seated behind him made it out, so he's attracting blame for some of those deaths.
That aside, the same guy also apparently demanded a refund and spent 40 minutes unsuccessfully arguing for it, before leaving the airport and telling reporters on the way out that Aeroflot "consists of heartless and unprofessional people". He also declined to stop and speak to the media, heading outside to an ambulance while saying "My blood pressure is 200/120 and I have arrhythmia. I cannot stop. I want to live." Though apparently his life was second to trying to get his money back.
The other inconsistency is people saying only 3 people behind the bag guy in 10C made it out, but the seat map floating around Russian newspapers shows 6 people with seat assignments aft who made it.
Not clear which is correct. If the seat map is correct the survivor in 18A may be able to answer a lot.
Another thing we don't know about pax with bags. They may have been in the seat underneath - no overhead bin involved.
May 6, 2019, 6:44 pm
#74
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Back in the way back you can see archival reels of Aeroflot testing a system where passengers boarded and dropped their luggage in a chute next to their seat. It was never adopted widely. That and not that many people had the possibility of flying in the USSR, or would want to given its atrocious safety record.
May 6, 2019, 8:24 pm
#75
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From the purported seat map referenced above (https://static.ngs.ru/news/99/previe...a17822_739.jpg), which admittedly could be completely fabricated, it seems like all the names are Russian. That might be a complete red herring though...