Tu-204 and idle engines
The Tu-204 operated by S7 Airlines began its journey from Frankfurt am Main on January 14, 2002 with a planned arrival in Novosibirsk Tolmachevo. Severe weather, including strong winds and heavy snow, prevented a safe landing and the crew diverted to an alternate airfield in Omsk. As the approach neared the final stretch, fuel levels dwindled and the situation grew tense.
Thankfully the crew managed a landing with all engines inoperative, bringing the aircraft to a stop using emergency braking. The airplane slid off the runway into a snowbank. It carried 117 passengers and 22 crew members. There were no injuries, the airframe sustained only minor damage, and the aircraft returned to service soon after. The Tu-204 continued to operate until March 22, 2010, when a serious incident led to its retirement from service.
Miracle on the Hudson
On January 15, 2009, a US Airways Airbus A320-214 departed New York for Charlotte. Within 90 seconds, the plane collided with a flock of birds. The commander immediately issued a distress call as both engines failed; the pilots managed to pivot the aircraft and make an emergency water landing in the Hudson River. All 150 people aboard survived, with 78 sustaining minor injuries and hypothermia. Rescue boats ferried passengers from the aircraft to shore.
The National Transportation Safety Board found remains of birds and feathers in the engine during the investigation. Initial plans briefly considered landing at inland airports, but the crew ultimately landed on water and were cleared of blame for the accident. The aircraft was later displayed at a museum in Charlotte, and passengers received compensation through the airline.
Crew error led to disaster
On December 4, 2010, a Tu-154M operated by South East Airlines departed from Moscow’s Vnukovo airport toward Makhachkala. Shortly after takeoff, fuel-system instability emerged and one engine failed, followed by a second. The crew attempted to return to Vnukovo, but the dispatcher redirected them to Domodedovo for a safe landing. The aircraft later reported that a third engine had also shut down and the flight controls and generators had failed.
The plane made a hard landing, skidded off the runway, and struck a dirt embankment, splitting the fuselage. There were 163 passengers and 8 crew on board; two people were not rescued and 83 sustained injuries of varying severity.
A criminal case followed under the relevant traffic safety provisions, pointing to mistakes made during flight and landing with one engine running. Investigators noted that the flight engineer turned off the fuel pump boost automatically, causing engine stalls.
On January 22, 2015, the flight commander Zakorzh Zakorzhaev received a three-year suspended sentence, later annulled by amnesty. The airline paid more than 16 million rubles in compensation to victims.
Aircraft without power supply
On September 7, 2010, an Tu-154M operated by Alrosa Airlines took off from Udachny toward Moscow. About 3.5 hours into the flight, the power system failed entirely. Navigation, radio, and electric fuel pumps ceased operating.
The crew began to descend and seek a landing site when they stumbled upon an airport in Izhma that was not normally used for landings. It was not an ideal option, but it offered the best chance to reach safety. Dispatchers notified local emergency services that the aircraft was heading toward Izhma.
The crew succeeded in landing on the third attempt. The airplane rolled off the runway and sustained damage, yet all 71 passengers and 9 crew members survived.
Investigations traced the root cause to a short circuit in the battery. The pilots faced no blame, and passengers expressed gratitude for the crew’s professionalism and lifesaving actions. The aircraft quickly returned to routine service.
Egyptian miracle
On August 15, 2019, an Ural Airlines Airbus A321 departed from Zhukovsky Airport bound for Moscow via Simferopol. Moments after takeoff, a flock of seagulls appeared in the path. The collision with the birds caused the engines to fail, prompting an emergency signal and a return attempt to the departure airport. The second engine also failed, forcing the crew to aim for a field ahead.
The landing was difficult but successful, and all 225 passengers and 7 crew aboard survived, though 74 people sustained injuries of varying severity. The aircraft sustained severe damage and was ultimately written off.
On August 16, 2019, a decree from the president awarded the Order of Courage to five flight attendants, and pilots Damir Yusupov and Georgy Murzin were named Heroes of Russia.
Every flight is dangerous
Historian Sydyp Baldruev, an authority on Russian aviation history, notes that while crashes are not common, they tend to frighten people more than everyday traffic incidents. He emphasizes the relentless pursuit of safety standards in aviation, yet also acknowledges that no flight can be guaranteed completely safe. Even highly advanced aircraft can suffer damage due to weather, wildlife, or human error, and predicting every outcome remains impossible.
For example, the Airbus A310 is often labeled as problematic, yet Baldruev argues it is among the safest aircraft; its reputation stems from a string of separate incidents rather than intrinsic design flaws. He questions modern safety ratings, saying they overlook important factors and methodologies vary widely. Small planes, operation counts, and total flight time are not always accounted for, making broad statistics potentially misleading. In every incident, multiple factors interact, making it impossible to rely on a single rule.