The Curse of Russia’s Airplanes

In what could only be described as the worst advert imaginable for Russia’s attempts to improve its airline transport, one of its newest airplanes, the Sukhoi Superjet has crashed on a demo tour in Indonesia, killing all 47 passengers, who consisted of, amongst others, potential customers, journalists and embassy staff.   Medvedev has, of course, ordered an investigation into the tragedy.  When a Yak-42 mid-range jet crashed last September, decimating the Yaroslav Lokomotiv hockey team, international players later spoke of their fears when of traveling on creaking, antiquated Russian jets.  Without the excuse of antiquity – how will the fate of this aircraft be explained?