The Turbulent Journey Of Sukhoi's Superjet

The aftermath of the May 5 tragedy at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after the plane's crew issued a distress call and turned back shortly after takeoff. Amateur video appeared to show the Superjet 100 bursting into flames after bouncing violently along the runway.

A 2007 photo of a model Superjet 100 during aerodynamics testing. Development of the plane began in 2000 by Sukhoi, a storied airplane manufacturer within Russia's United Aircraft Corporation.

The distinctive cockpit window frame of the Superjet being assembled. The Russian government would eventually fund some 25% of the reported $1.4 billion spent on development of the jet, intended primarily for use as a regional passenger plane.

The maiden flight of a Superjet in May 2008. The rollout marked a significant departure for the United Aircraft Corporation, which makes mostly combat aircraft.

A test pilot is feted by Sukhoi executives after the Superjet's first flight. But celebrations in the company proved short-lived.

Superjets under construction in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's Far East. The plane was initially slated to be available to buyers by 2009, but problems with its engines delayed its entry to the market.

A powerjet SaM146 engine, used on the Superjet 100 plane, being tested. The engines, made jointly by Russian and French companies, reportedly took longer than expected to be certified.

An SaM146 engine being tested in 2009. The head of United Aircraft Corporation at the time told reporters, "It turned out [the engines] were not ready. I think the problems were indeed technical -- a new engine is being developed."

In 2011, the Superjet first entered commercial service with Armenia's national carrier.

A Superjet makes a low pass at a Moscow airshow. By 2015 the Superjet was considered largely an engineering success, but sales were slow.

But in 2012 a demonstration flight ended in disaster in Indonesia when a Russian pilot, reportedly distracted by potential Asian buyers aboard the aircraft, ignored an automated warning system and slammed into a mountain, killing all 45 passengers and crew.

Aviation news website Flightglobal wrote in 2015 that the Superjet 100 had in many ways "achieved what its creators set out to do. It is a five-abreast, 100-seat aircraft with reasonable economics that stands apart from rivals in terms of cabin width and comfort." In 2018, Russia's Aeroflot airlines ordered 100 of the planes. But possible problems with the plane's engines have recently resurfaced.

A pilot inside the Superjet's cockpit. Beginning in 2018, several Superjets have been grounded due to questions about the SaM146 engine.

A Superjet engine undergoing maintenance. Russia's Yakutia Airlines and Mexican carrier Interjet have both reported issues with their Superjets' engines. As of March, 15 of the 22 Superjet 100s operated by Interjet were out of service.

Investigators of the fiery May 5 crash (pictured) say they will examine several possibilities for what might have caused the accident, including “equipment malfunction, technical inspection, meteorological conditions, and crew qualification.”