On December 28, 2023, a Polar Airlines Antonov AN-24 landed on the frozen Kolyma River instead of the parallel gravel runway at Zyryanka Airport (UASU), Russia.
The Antonov AN-24 with registration RA-47821 was operating a flight originating from Yakutsk and was en route to Zyryanka and then Srednekolymsk.
The aircraft landed at 11:50 local time in the Verkhnekolyma region. Emergency services confirmed the safe evacuation of all passengers, including two children, adding that the landing occurred past the designated runway.
Despite the unexpected landing on the frozen river, all 34 passengers and crew members onboard remained unharmed, successfully evacuating the aircraft without major injuries.
Polar Airlines Antonov AN-24 (RA-47821, built 1971) landed on the ice of the frozen Kolyma River instead of the parallel gravel runway at Zyryanka Airport (UASU), Russia. The landing however was safe and all 34 passengers and crew remained unhurt and walked ashore. The An-24 took… pic.twitter.com/h1nldiFbLm
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) December 28, 2023
Zyryanka Airport, with a gravel runway, serves as a vital air link for the region, connecting it to Yakutsk. The airport’s limited infrastructure may have presented challenges, particularly with reduced visibility during the landing approach.
The Eastern Siberia transport prosecutor attributed the incident to an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft. Limited visibility and the inability of the pilots to discern the runway might have led to the unconventional landing on the frozen river.
Remarkably, the frigid temperatures of Siberia played a role in ensuring the safety of all onboard, as everyone successfully evacuated the aircraft without casualties. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, focusing on understanding the factors that contributed to the crew’s navigation error during the landing approach.
Feature Image via Twitter
