The passenger plane that caught fire when it crash-landed at Moscow's international airport had a fault with its automatic control system, according to the airport's press department.

41 people died in the accident.

The radio system also stopped working properly before the catastrophic emergency landing, according to the pilots' message to air traffic control, reports the Russian news agency Interfax.

According to the airport's statement, the plane caught fire only when it touched down. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes, Interfax reports.

Russian authorities are investigating whether the pilots may have acted incorrectly in connection with the accident. Sources within the accident investigation board tell the newspaper Kommersant that the pilots made a number of mistakes, including flying into a thunderstorm and landing with full fuel tanks, writes the AFP news agency. According to a recording of the conversation between the cockpit and air traffic controllers, the pilots also did not announce that the situation was critical.

The plane, a Superjet 100, had just taken off from Sheremetyevo Airport when it sent out a distress signal and turned back, then crashed.

Investigators, who are still examining the black boxes from the plane, have not yet given an official explanation for the accident.

Source: TT