PRAGUE, Czech Republic — A Russian military jet malfunctioned while landing Wednesday in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, injuring six people as it rolled off the runway, broke apart and caught fire, Czech and Russian officials said. At least one man was in life-threatening condition.
The Russian-made An-30 plane had 23 people on board - 14 Russians and nine Czechs, Czech military spokesman Jana Ruzickova said.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Igor Konashenkov said the plane’s front landing gear collapsed as it was touching down, an explanation Ruzickova declined to confirm. Czech public television footage showed the plane broken in two and gutted by fire.
Ruzickova said five Russians and one Czech suffered injuries, mostly burns. One Russian who suffered burns over 20 percent of his body was in life-threatening condition, said Hana Vranova, spokesman for Prague’s Vinohrady hospital.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 05/24/2012