Aeroflot Airbus A321 veers off runway

Nearly 200 passengers and crew aboard an Airbus A321 landed with a bad fright as their Aeroflot flight SU 1008, linking Moscow to Russia's westernmost city of Kaliningrad, veered off the runway in a snowstorm on  3rdJanuary.

The A321 touched down on the runway at 10.55pm local time, but for reasons as yet unclear, it suddenly veered to the right and then skid off the runway. Its nose-gear apparently collapsed, leaving the aircraft seriously damaged.

All 167 passengers and five crew members aboard were evacuated via inflatable safety slides, with three people suffering minor injuries. Airport traffic was interrupted for 30 hours following the accident, as the plane was removed with the help of the Russian military.

While it is too early to determine exactly why the plane left the runway, Russian airline Aeroflot has spoken of "bad adhesion of the wheels to the track" and "a strong cross wind". Weather conditions were bad at the time of landing, with heavy sleet and snow, leading to poor visibility. Investigators have opened an enquiry.