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Russia’s prosecutor general is to consider the case of an Aeroflot captain indicted over last year’s fatal Sukhoi Superjet 100 landing accident at Moscow Sheremetyevo. The federal Investigative Committee says it has completed its criminal probe into the May 5, 2019 accident during which the aircraft returned to the airport after a lightning strike. It bounced on touchdown, resulting in a landing-gear collapse and a fire which engulfed the aft fuselage. Only 37 of the 78 occupants survived the blaze. The Investigative Committee says it has collected “sufficient evidence” in the case and has forwarded the information to the prosecutor general, which will decide on proceeding with the indictment. Examination of the aircraft’s flight recorders, it states, found that the Superjet “adequately responded” to the pilot’s control inputs.<br/>

Delta will be prohibited from administering involuntary furloughs or pay-rate reductions through Sept 30, the primary condition of accepting CARES Act payroll assistance. The airline reports a 95% decline in passenger traffic since the coronavirus pandemic began and has reduced its flight schedule by 80%. It raised more than US$3b in additional capital in Q1 of this year, and improved its liquidity through the voluntary furloughs of 35,000 employees. “These steps, taken together, are vital to protecting Delta’s future over the next several months as we operate a minimal schedule to provide essential services for those who must travel,” CE Ed Bastian says.<br/>