Sukhoi: Operators Unaffected by SSJ Test Incident
A Sukhoi SSJ100 performing Cat IIIA landing tests in Keflavik, Iceland, landed with its gear retracted Sunday. (Photo: Superjet International)
A Sukhoi SSJ100 performing Cat IIIA landing tests in Keflavik, Iceland, landed with its gear retracted Sunday. (Photo: Superjet International)

Sunday’s incident involving a Sukhoi Superjet 100 in which the airplane landed with its gear retracted at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland will not affect operations of any in-service SSJ100s, the Russian manufacturer said in a statement released Monday. While undergoing the final stage of test flights to evaluate the twinjet’s performance in strong crosswinds during a Category IIIA landing, the airplane—identified as tail number 97005—approached the runway while powered by just one engine when it touched the ground, forcing the belly landing. Because the airplane still hasn’t gained Cat IIIA certification, no airlines will suffer any operational limitations due to the incident.