Staff Report
Dubai: It has been a year when flydubai plane crashed in Russia. In this regard a monument to the victims of the flydubai plane crash was unveiled on Sunday on the occasion of the first anniversary of the tragedy that killed 62 passengers and crew.
The memorial, in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, has been named Interrupted Flight and is situated close to the city’s airport.
It was designed by Rostov sculptor Anatolly Sknarin and consists of three granite columns and a vertical stone slab bearing the names of the victims.
A sculpture of a bird has been erected near the slab as a symbol uniting the earth and air. Ceremonies were held in the southern Russian city and in Dubai on Sunday.
In Rostov-on-Don, religious leaders and tearful relatives of passengers gathered at the memorial, many leaving flowers and tributes to loved ones.
The flydubai Boeing 737-800 from Dubai crashed at Rostov-on-Don airport in the early hours of March 19, 2016. Complications arose during strong side winds and rain and the crash happened during a second attempt to land. The plane had spent more than two hours circling before attempting to touch down for the second time.
“A year has passed from that horrible tragedy. Today, we open a memorial. Let me express condolences to the relatives of the victims,” Sputnik news agency quoted Russian transport minister Maxim Sokolov as saying.
“Let this memorial symbolise their souls, which will remain forever in our hearts.”
Flydubai’s chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said that the airline’s personnel were united in remembering those who lost their lives.
“Today offers a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of flight FZ981. Our hearts go out to the families of the passengers and crew members who are mourning loved ones,” he said.
“At this time of reflection, we hope the memorials offer a degree of comfort to the families who continue to grieve. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the officials and authorities in Rostov-On-Don and my colleagues at Flydubai who have made these memorials possible.”
