Dubai: The Russian community is mourning the death of passengers on board flydubai that crashed in southwestern Russia on Saturday.
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don crashed on Saturday, killing all 55 passengers and seven crew.
The aircraft was on its second attempt to land in bad weather. The passengers included 44 Russians, eight Ukrainians, two Indians and an Uzbekistani.
“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates express their deepest condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in this tragedy,” an official statement from the Russian missions read.
Vice-Consul Ayna Charnova from the Russian Consulate told Gulf News on Saturday that the missions are ready to give all consular and visa support to the passengers’ relatives on “an urgent basis”.
“Four relatives of the passengers have sought our help for consular support; they are all Russians. We are expecting more,” Charnova said.
Charnova said many of the passengers are presumably tourists.
The Russian Business Council was likewise saddened by the news.
“As a community we are very sorry for what happened and would like to express our condolences on the families and relatives of the passengers. We also feel very sorry for the crew, regardless of their nationality,” Dr Igor Egorov, a member of the board of the Russian Business Council, told Gulf News.
Dr Egorov said he immediately checked on family and friends when he first heard the news on Saturday morning. The business council is in talks with the Russian missions in the UAE on whatever help they can extend.
Dr Egorov said flydubai is very active in Russia. Based on its website, flydubai flies to eight Russian cities, including its capital, Moscow.
Meanwhile in Sharjah, prayers for the victims of the incident were held at the Russian Orthodox Church at around 2pm on Saturday.
Attendees recited prayers and lit candles. Some women sobbed during and after the proceedings.
On Sunday, during the routine Sunday service at the Church, prayers will also be offered for the deceased at 10am.
Parish priest Archimandrite Aleksandr, who led Saturday’s special prayers, will also hold the service on Sunday.
Juergen Gasiecki from the church’s administration said prayers will also be held on the third, ninth and 40th day following the day of the incident.
More information is available through the administration number 055 6850331 and website, www.rus-church.ae.
Andrey, a Russian expat in Dubai who attended the prayers, said it is believed the Russian passengers included both Russian residents of the UAE and Russian tourists, but he had no details or confirmation.
The church opened in September 2007 and is the only Russian Orthodox Church in the Arabian Peninsula, the administration said. However, the first service there was held in August 2011.
