Early on 6 July 1982, the four-engined Ilyushin Il-62 crashed and was destroyed by fire after two engines were shut down shortly after take-off.

[2] The crew turned the aircraft to return to Sheremetyevo Airport but after the second engine shutdown it was only at an altitude of about 160 metres (520 ft) and a speed of 320 km/h (170 kn; 200 mph).

Despite the pilots' efforts to keep it airborne, the aircraft gradually lost height and airspeed until it stalled about 75 metres (246 ft) above the ground.

A passenger from Sierra Leone survived the initial accident and subsequent fire, but died on the evening of 8 July.

It found no fault with the pilots' actions, who could not make a forced landing because of the dark and the urban areas on the ground below.