An Aeroflot pilot died from a suspected heart attack while the flight was making a descent.
Reports say the 49-year-old was piloting flight SU1546 from Moscow to the Black Sea resort of Anapa when he became ill, prompting the aircraft to land early at Platov International Airport in Rostov-on-Don.
Russian news outlet RT said cabin crew asked if there was a doctor on board, but no-one came forward and the pilot reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during landing.
It added the pilot had complained about chest pains before the flight but had passed a routine medical check-up and ‘had no health indicators that would have barred him from piloting the aircraft’.
An Aeroflot spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, it was not possible to resuscitate the pilot."
An investigation has been launched.
