Seven injured as Russian plane crash lands at Czech airport

WARSAW.  May 23. KAZINFORM   At least seven people were injured after a Russian military plane caught fire as it was landing at an airport east of Prague on Wednesday, an emergency official said.

photo: QAZINFORM

According to RIA Novosti, earlier reports said 19 people were injured after the Antonov An-30 aircraft with 23 servicemen on board - 14 Russians and nine Czechs - skidded off the runway while landing at the Caslav Military Airport.

The wrong figure was due to a counting mistake, local emergency service official Petr Mach said.

The twin-engine turboprop aircraft was carruing out an Open Skies surveillance flight.

"The [plane's] nosewheel collapsed on landing, putting the aircraft on its nose, after which it skidded off the runway and caught fire," said a spokesman for the Czech general staff.