In a tragic incident on Friday, a Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft owned by Gazprom-Avia crashed near Moscow, claiming the lives of its three-man crew. The plane, which had been in service since 2014, went down in a forested area near the village of Apraksino, approximately 90 kilometers southeast of the Russian capital.

According to reports from TASS, the state-run media, the ill-fated test flight took place following repair works on the aircraft. It had departed from the Lukhovitsy aircraft-making plant and was heading towards Moscow's Vnukovo airport. However, just eight minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed under unknown circumstances.

The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time. Russian media sources have suggested several possibilities, including engine failure, a potential bird strike, fuel issues, or a failure related to the local repair. In light of these uncertainties, the country's top state criminal investigation agency, the Investigative Committee, has launched a probe into the incident.

Further reports emerged that the test flight had not received authorization from Rosaviatsiya, the Federal Air Transport authority, leading to questions about the circumstances surrounding the ill-fated flight.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, though domestically produced, incorporates various Western components, including the French-produced Safran SaM-146 engine. However, following sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, maintenance support from foreign manufacturers has been restricted, impacting the country's aviation industry.

In recent times, Russia has witnessed a significant rise in aviation incidents, including in-flight emergencies and equipment failures. In 2023 alone, there were nearly 700 reported incidents, with 400 associated with equipment failures causing fires and malfunctions in engines, landing gear, flaps, and guidance systems.

Russia had expressed confidence in its ability to maintain and repair critical parts of its aircraft, including engines and landing gear. However, the crash of the Sukhoi Superjet 100, supposedly following a domestic repair, raises concerns about the effectiveness of these repair capabilities.

Rostech, the state-owned defense conglomerate, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash, suggesting that more information is needed to determine the underlying factors.

Introduced in 2011, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 was initially seen as a significant achievement for Russia's civil aviation industry. It aimed to reduce the country's reliance on Western aviation equipment. However, the aircraft has been plagued with malfunctions and high maintenance costs, making Russian carriers hesitant to purchase it. Moreover, attempts to market the aircraft abroad largely failed, with foreign customers who did buy them subsequently phasing out their Superjets from service.

This tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the challenges facing Russia's aviation industry and raises questions regarding the safety and reliability of the Sukhoi Superjet 100.