Screaming passengers had to be evacuated from a burning Boeing 767 at the end of a packed tourist flight from Vietnam.
One of the wheels ignited after a “loud bang” on a failed landing in the Russian city of Barnaul, prompting a full-scale emergency as the aircraft made its second attempt.
Smoke swirled through the rear part of the passenger cabin as the plane landed, said reports.
Panic-stricken passengers recalled the frantic scenes on the seven-hour flight from Cam Ranh, Asia.
One said: “Somebody shouted: ‘We’re on fire’.
“And there was chaos as people rushed forward and started pushing each other.”
A total of 56 were injured as passengers were ordered to flee the plane using emergency slides - one of which "failed to properly open" during the evacuation.
They were instructed by the crew to run some 650 ft from the burning Azur Air 767-300ER amid fears it could explode into flames.
There were 334 passengers on board and ten crew, said local reports.
The airline said in a statement: “Thanks to the professional and orchestrated actions of Azur Air crew, all passengers were evacuated”.
Tourist Maryna Shevchenko said: “There were no injuries during the actual landing. But there were during the evacuation.
“There was panic, crowding - bruises and broken legs. It was really harsh.”
Another passenger said: “They shouted at us to run 100-to-200 metres from the plane.
“Everyone would rushed towards the fields beside the runway. Firefighters reacted quickly, the air crew were also great, a stewardess yelled in different languages and threw people off onto the gangway.”
Videos show passengers screaming as the emerge from the stricken aircraft onto the snow covered tarmac.
Reports said flames were seen from landing gear of one wheel as the 28-year-old plane made its second approach.
The evacuation took five minutes and the fire was extinguished 11 minutes after landing, officials said.
Most of the injured were treated by emergency medical teams at the airport while others were moved to local hospitals.
Two had broken bones and a woman suffered a spine and kidney injury. Seven ambulance teams were at the scene.
A preliminary investigation was launched by the Russian authorities into the incident.
