The passenger service ran a semi-scheduled service until the first Tu-144D experienced an in-flight failure during a pre-delivery test flight, crash-landing on 23 May 1978 with two crew fatalities.
Layanan penumpang semi layanan dijadwalkan sampai Tu-144D pertama mengalami kegagalan dalam penerbangan selama penerbangan uji pre-delivery, pendaratan darurat, pada tanggal 23 Mei 1978 dengan dua kematian awak.