Russian Antonov An-24 plane lands on frozen river

According to transport prosecutors, a pilot error caused a Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft carrying thirty passengers to land on a frozen river close to an airport in the far east of Russia on Thursday.

Prosecutors stated that the Polar Airlines An-24 made a safe landing on the Kolyma River close to Zyryanka in the Yakutia area.

“A spokesperson for the Eastern Siberian transport prosecutor stated in a statement that the cause of the aviation incident was an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft, according to preliminary information.”

A short statement from Polar Airlines was posted on its website confirming that an An-24 aircraft made a safe landing off Zyryanka Airport’s (ZKP) runway. A passenger’s video captured the aircraft nearly in the middle of the frozen Kolyma River in eastern Siberia. At this time of year, Zyryanka experiences lows of about -40C.

The plane, according to the prosecution, touched down on a sandbank in the river. The length of time it had taken to come to its final prevent was visible in a trail in the snow.

Source