A Soviet-era airliner landed on a frozen river in Russia. However, it wasn’t an emergency landing, but rather it was reportedly an error?
In this post:
Polar Airlines Antonov-24 lands on frozen river
This incident happened on Thursday, December 28, 2023, and involves a 52-year-old Polar Airlines Antonov-24 with the registration code RA-47821 (okay, talk about a cool plane, at least!). The turboprop was operating a 688-mile route in Siberia, from Yakutsk (YKS) to Zyryanka (ZKP), with 34 people onboard, including 30 passengers and four crew members.
It’s worth noting that Zyryanka only has a very small airport, with the only air link being this Polar Airlines route from Yakutsk. The airport’s runway is gravel.
The aircraft was on approach to the airport with limited visibility, and the pilots reportedly couldn’t see the runway. Instead of landing on the runway, the plane instead landed parallel to it, on the nearby frozen Kolyma River.
Fortunately there were no casualties or major injuries, and everyone managed to safely evacuate the aircraft. I guess in this case Siberia’s frigid temperatures worked in everyone’s favor.
What caused this incident?
What caused this Polar Airlines aircraft to make a landing like this? Here’s what the Eastern Siberia transport prosecutor had to say:
“According to preliminary information, the cause of the aviation incident was an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft.”
Admittedly with most aviation incidents, we get a full, thorough investigation into what happened, and that might still be coming. That being said, I’m not sure I’d necessarily trust Russia to be honest to the world about the cause of an incident, if it’s anything other than human error (especially with a Russian aircraft involved).
I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering exactly how something like this could happen? The aircraft being flown was a 50+ year old Soviet-era turboprop, so I imagine it may not have the most advanced technology. Is an aircraft like this able to land at a small airport in Siberia with virtually no visibility, and does the airport even have the technology to accommodate that?
I can’t help but wonder if maybe visibility just wasn’t good, and there were no suitable diversion points, so ditching on a frozen river was the best course of action? Of course this is just a random theory, but it’s the first thing that comes to mind…
Russian airlines seem to be making good use of non-runways lately. While different, it reminds me of how a few months ago, a Ural Airlines Airbus A320 landed in a field in Siberia.
Bottom line
A Polar Airlines Antonov-24 produced in 1971 landed on a frozen river in Siberia on Thursday. The aircraft was on approach to a small airport with limited visibility, and the plane ended up landing on a river parallel to the intended runway.
For modern aircraft capable of doing instrument approaches, this mistake would be unimaginable. However, given the age of this aircraft, plus the small airport being served, I have to imagine that may relate to this outcome?
What’s your take on this situation?
Look at a satellite image of the airport and you'll see that it's really not that big a mistake. The gravel runway looks like the riverbank
Who wouldn’t want to leave Russia? Any way possible…. Every Russian soldier will die before the dictator gives up his life.
Here’s what the Eastern Siberia transport prosecutor had to say...
Here's a so-called "country" that has PROSECUTORS designated for it's transportation system. Not professional NTSB investigators, but PROSECUTORS. Speaks volume about their so-called "government." Imagine, your state or county has "transport prosecutors" for every location (and probably "prosecutors" for a hundred other imagined needs). What a great way to ensure there's a strong safety culture.
Russia is a "nation" of liars, cheats and mafia thugs...
Here’s what the Eastern Siberia transport prosecutor had to say...
Here's a so-called "country" that has PROSECUTORS designated for it's transportation system. Not professional NTSB investigators, but PROSECUTORS. Speaks volume about their so-called "government." Imagine, your state or county has "transport prosecutors" for every location (and probably "prosecutors" for a hundred other imagined needs). What a great way to ensure there's a strong safety culture.
Russia is a "nation" of liars, cheats and mafia thugs (a "gas station with nukes run by the mafia")...
10 out of 10, you've summed it up. Guessing the crew were inveterate drunks like all the rest of them.
Don't worry. It's coming here quickly. Remember Palestine, Ohio ? (Maybe not... it was a train, not your area of expertise), but the sight of Peter Booted Edge walloping in the mud, 3 weeks too late in his brand new shiny helmet and his thin loafers which he seemed so afraid to ruin was priceless.
And NO, I am not homophobic and for good reasons, but Incompetence is not exclusively a Russian word (Некомпетентность, Nyekompetentnost).
Wow.That's impressive. How do you know all this? Through Chinese media?
Have you ever been to Russia to be able to claim these things? Or even met a Russian person.
Look, Bobo being a Russophobe with no idea what they are talking about. Do you hate Russia and Russians because you are a xenophobic moron, or because some media organization told you to hate them? Don't forget to also look in Kiev, Washington, London and Brussels to find "liars, cheats and mafia thugs."
From the weather forecast for Zyryanka over the next few days: Saturday -38, Sunday -46, Monday -39. These are in F, and these are day temperatures, nights are colder.
When it's that cold, you can just as easily land an A380 carrying the 747 shuttle carrier carrying the space shuttle - it's all fully frozen thru anyways.
I'm actually more curious if this was a one off. I wouldn't be surprised if this happens on...
From the weather forecast for Zyryanka over the next few days: Saturday -38, Sunday -46, Monday -39. These are in F, and these are day temperatures, nights are colder.
When it's that cold, you can just as easily land an A380 carrying the 747 shuttle carrier carrying the space shuttle - it's all fully frozen thru anyways.
I'm actually more curious if this was a one off. I wouldn't be surprised if this happens on occasion for whatever reason local pilots may have. Maybe this particular instance just got picked up my media.
Obviously this will never be allowed officially, but those airports/areas/airlines are not exactly following international standards to begin with - service just wouldn't exist if they did.
On a positive note, the river was frozen at the time...
Somewhere Napoleon is saying, “Fire the cannons onto the ice!”
Ben I was hoping you would post about the AA passengers meltdown a CLT the other day. The Dolly & Shelby rant was phenomenal (also sad) but based on Twitter the internet loved it. "Think of the girls! Think of the girls!" It was so ridiculous but also perfect.
I’ve watched it dozens times of times. Can you imagine how embarrassed they should be watching the video. And that poor dog sitting there next to the lady in the wheelchair, who one of them screamed at. It looked totally perplexed.
I think those queens should be known as Dolly and Shelby henceforth.
I just don’t see any possible way that an article like this belongs in OMAAT.
Is it just because an airplane is involved?
OMAAT isn't just about reviewing gorgeous airport lounges
OMAAT has plenty of articles like this and always has. If the article is not to your liking, youre welcome to not read it.
So the website should be precluded from posting some general news articles that are aviation related? You apparently care so much that you took the time to read the article, or at least part of it, and post a comment.
How do you know some here aren't a member of Polar Airlines' Frequent-flyer programme and may want to know this?