MOSCOW, May 6 (RAPSI) – Over 20 people have been recognized as victims in a case over the deadly fire on board a passenger aircraft Sukhoi Superjet-100 (SSJ-100) at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport by now, the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko has told journalists.

On May 5, the SSJ-100 airplane bound from Moscow to Murmansk caught fire during the emergency landing at Sheremetyevo. There were 78 people on board including three minors and 5 crew members. According to preliminary information, 41 individuals died in the fire.

A criminal case was opened over violation of air traffic safety rules and aircraft steering rules that entailed death of two and more people through negligence.

Investigators are now questioning victims, witnesses, employees of the airport and the air carrier and other persons responsible for the aircraft operation. They will also examine needed technical documents, the statement reads.