In an unexpected occurrence, a small plane from Polar Airlines in Yakutsk mistakenly landed on a frozen river instead of the intended runway near the Russian city of Yakutsk. Yakutsk is known for its extremely cold temperatures. The pilot, confusing the frozen Kolyma River for a proper landing strip, unintentionally put the 30 passengers and four crew members at risk.
Fortunately, there were no injuries or casualties in the incident. All 34 individuals were able to safely disembark from the plane and walked across the frozen river to reach a secure area. Although the stranded plane got stuck in the snow, it did not suffer significant damage.
Investigators attribute the incident to the pilot’s mistake in identifying the frozen river as a suitable landing location. This situation serves as a reminder of the challenges pilots face, especially in regions with severe weather conditions.
The aviation authorities and Polar Airlines are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to understand the factors contributing to the pilot’s confusion and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Overall, the fortunate outcome was due to the passengers’ quick response and the relatively minor damage to the plane during the unusual landing on the frozen river.
