An investigation has been opened after an Aeroflot plane burst into flames mid-air, killing 41 of the 78 people onboard.
Reports suggest passengers might have delayed the evacuation after images emerged of them clutching their hand-luggage as they fled from the stricken aircraft, which crash landed at Moscow airport shortly after take-off.
There are suggestions that some of the passengers sitting at the front of the plane blocked the aisles by stopping to collect their belongings from overhead bins.
Only three passengers sitting behind aisle 10 survived the blaze, say reports.
Photographs of the immediate aftermath show some passengers carrying rucksacks and coats as they ran from the Russian-built SuperJet-100.
Meanwhile, an air stewardess who helped passengers from the plane has been hailed a hero. Tatyana Kasatkina told newspapers she kicked open the emergency exit and dragged passengers by their collars to the door. Another air steward, Maxim Moiseev was said to have been killed while saving his passengers from the blaze, REN TV reported.
The crash happened shortly after the plane took off from Moscow airport on a regional flight to the northern Russian city of Murmansk. It is thought it might have been struck by lightning.
Following a distress signal from the crew, the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet made an emergency landing back at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, where the emergency evacuation slides were deployed.
A criminal investigation has been opened into the crash, according to local media.
