The Pulkovo Airport Aerial Incident Under Probe Following a Near-Miss Between a Car and a Plane
The prosecutor’s office has opened an inquiry into the aerial incident at Pulkovo Airport that brought a car to the edge of a serious collision with a plane. The North West Transport Prosecutor’s Office announced the development on its Telegram channel.
According to the report published on May 26, 2024, a technical employee of Nordwind Airlines drove his vehicle onto the tarmac in front of the Kostroma-St. Petersburg flight path, creating a dangerous situation on the airfield.
Earlier information indicated that the employee did not have authorization to access the airport grounds. Investigators are assessing how the access controls were bypassed and what safety protocols may have been breached.
Life, citing Shot, relayed that on May 26 a vehicle was discovered at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg and had come close to a plane headed toward the parking area. The pilot of the An-26 aircraft narrowly avoided a collision when the car halted about 50 meters away from the aircraft. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in connection with the incident.
There are indications that similar incidents have occurred at Pulkovo in the past. In April, a truck reportedly struck an Airbus-319 on or near the airfield, causing paint damage and prompting inquiries from airport safety and regulatory authorities.
Another unrelated event involved a fiery accident involving several vehicles in the Moscow region, which was captured on video and circulated widely. The investigation into that event continues to unfold as authorities review surveillance footage and incident reports to determine causes and any contributing factors.
Officials emphasize that any breach of airport security or safety protocols is treated with the utmost seriousness. The ongoing inquiry at Pulkovo aims to determine responsibilities, strengthen access controls, and prevent recurrence of such near-misses. Marked citations indicate that multiple sources are tracking the developments and that investigators are compiling a comprehensive timeline to inform aviation safety measures and regulatory oversight.