S7 Airlines Flight 778 was a scheduled flight from Moscow to Irkutsk, operating an Airbus A310 with a capacity of around 200 passengers. On July 9, 2006, the flight was approaching Irkutsk Airport when its crew encountered challenging weather conditions, namely heavy rain that made the runway slick. As the aircraft attempted to land, it lost control and veered off the runway, crashing into a concrete barrier. The circumstances surrounding the crash raised concerns about the adequacy of local airport infrastructure in managing adverse weather conditions. Investigations following the crash revealed that the plane attempted to land at high speed, which could have contributed to its inability to stop effectively on the wet runway.

The crash resulted in the tragic loss of 125 lives, including passengers and crew. Among those aboard were various individuals from different backgrounds, highlighting the international nature of air travel, particularly within Russia, where people travel for business, leisure, and family reasons. This incident became one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Siberia, emphasizing the pivotal role of safety regulations and weather assessments in aviation. The aftermath led to increased scrutiny of airline safety protocols and runway conditions at airports in similar climates.