Smartavia Boeing 737 Skids Off Runway in Russia During Snowy Weather

Russian Aviation News

Russian aviation investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the Smartavia Boeing 737-800 aircraft that veered off a runway during its landing. This incident took place on October 24, 2023, as the plane completed its journey from St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) to Perm Bolshoye Savino Airport (PEE). The investigation is being conducted by the Central MSUT of the Investigative Committee.

Notably, the plane was carrying 186 passengers, including 14 children, at the time of the runway excursion. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew members, and the aircraft itself remained undamaged.

Photographs of the plane after the incident show it positioned on a grassy area near the runway. Weather reports from the time indicated the presence of heavy snowfall in the region. Preliminary findings suggest that unfavorable weather conditions may have contributed to the incident.

A similar event occurred on September 23, 2023, when an AnadoluJet-operated plane, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, also rolled off the same runway with 174 passengers aboard.