Watch the Video: Experience the unexpected landing and see how passengers safely disembarked on the frozen river.
Moscow: In an unusual incident, a Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft, carrying 30 passengers, made an unintended landing on a frozen river near an airport in Russia’s far east. Transport prosecutors have attributed the incident to pilot error.
The Polar Airlines An-24 executed a safe landing on the frozen Kolyma river near Zyryanka in the Yakutia region, as reported by prosecutors. According to a spokesperson for the Eastern Siberian transport prosecutor, the preliminary investigation indicates that the aviation mishap resulted from an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft.
Prosecutors have released images of the aircraft situated on the frozen river, while Izvestia newspaper has published pictures of passengers disembarking from the plane.
Polar Airlines acknowledged the incident in a brief statement, mentioning, “The An-24 aircraft landed outside of the runway of the Zyryanka airport.” Fortunately, there were no casualties reported.
The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by pilots, especially in adverse weather conditions, and highlights the importance of precise navigation and adherence to established procedures during flights. Investigations into the exact circumstances of the pilot error are likely to follow.
