Russian passenger plane catches fire mid-air All on board safe / PHOTO

A Russian passenger flight en route from Moscow to Thailand's city of Phuket was forced to return to the Russian capital on December 3 after an engine caught fire shortly after takeoff, Russian media reported.

According to TASS, the incident occurred when the Boeing 777-200, carrying 425 people including crew members, ignited one of its engines at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres. The onboard fire-suppression system quickly extinguished the flames.

The aircraft spent roughly 90 minutes circling above Moscow to burn fuel before making a safe landing at Domodedovo Airport. No injuries were reported.

Russian aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The cause of the engine fire has not yet been disclosed.

By Khagan Isayev