Criminal investigators have charged the captain of an Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 in connection with the fatal landing accident at Moscow Sheremetyevo airport earlier this year. The Murmansk-bound aircraft returned to Sheremetyevo after a lightning strike but bounced heavily during the landing, igniting spilled fuel when the landing-gear collapsed. Forty-one of the 78 occupants did not survive the accident. The captain had taken manual control of the Superjet after the lightning strike but the investigation has highlighted heavy-handed and abrupt inputs to the side-stick during the approach and touchdown. Russia's federal Investigative Committee says that the aircraft made a rough landing, adding that the captain's actions to control the jet were "in violation of established rules" and led to the airframe damage and the outbreak of fire. It states that he is being charged with a crime relating to breaches of air transport safety rules which, as a result of negligence, resulted in two or more fatalities. Ten of those on board received injuries of varying severity, says the committee, which adds that the criminal investigation is continuing.

Source: FlightGlobal

Russian federal investigators probing alleged embezzlement of Aeroflot funds have charged four individuals, including a member of the flag-carrier's management board who formerly served with the country's prosecutor general. Aeroflot deputy general director for legal and property matters Vladimir Alexandrov is accused of participating in a fraud involving theft of Rb250 million ($3.8 million) during 2015-16. The federal Investigative Committee alleges that he conspired with a former director of the airline's legal department to arrange several contracts for provision of legal services, to be carried out by two lawyers. It accuses the group of carrying out the work internally, through legal department employees, but then transferring at least Rb250 million over 2016-18 to cover false work claims linked to the lawyers. These funds were then distributed among the accused. Aeroflot lists Alexandrov as having joint the airline in 2013, and states that he had held senior positions not only with the Investigative Committee but also the Russian prosecutor general's office. He was appointed to head the airline's legal and property matters division in mid-2016.

Source: FlightGlobal

South Africa's public enterprises minister has informed the country's parliament that South African Airways and SA Express are not going concerns, in a letter explaining delays in the carriers' annual report submission. Pravin Gordhan stated that he was responsible for tabling the 2018-19 annual statements and audit reports for both carriers six months after the end of their financial years. Both SAA's and SA Express's financial years ended on 31 March, and their boards are required to provide the information to the ministry within five months. But Gordhan says, in a 27 September letter to parliament, that the boards have "not been able to finalise and submit" the annual reports within the prescribed deadlines.

"Both airlines are experiencing serious financial challenges and are unable to meet going concerns," he adds.

SAA has told the minister that its newly-appointed interim chief executive and chief financial officers need more time to hand the information to the auditor general. It has also requested an extension to the window in which it needs to hold its annual general meeting – an extension which has been granted until the end of March 2020. SA Express has similarly been unable to finalise its annual statements "due to financial constraints", the letter says. "[The] government remains committed to find a sustainable solution to the challenges facing the airlines."

Source: FlightGlobal