Aeroflot Flight 2420 was a passenger flight from Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport to Sheremetyevo International Airport that, on April 23, 1973, was hijacked by a passenger demanding to go to Stockholm. The crew returned to Leningrad but the hijacker detonated the bomb, killing himself and the mechanic, who had gone out to negotiate with the hijacker.[1]
 Aircraft involved in the hijacking | |
| Hijacking | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 23, 1973 |
| Summary | Hijacking |
| Site | Shosseynaya Airport, Leningrad, Soviet Union |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Tupolev Tu-104B |
| Operator | Aeroflot |
| Registration | СССР-42505 |
| Flight origin | Shosseynaya Airport |
| Destination | Sheremetyevo International Airport |
| Occupants | 57 |
| Passengers | 51 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Survivors | 55 |
Aircraft
editThe accident aircraft was a Tupolev Tu-104B manufactured in 1960 in Kazan Aviation Factory No.22 (registration СССР-42505; factory number 021903). Two Mikulin AM-3M-500 engines powered the plane. By the time of the accident, it had logged 17,095 flight hours and 10,698 pressurisation cycles.[2][3]
Hijacking
editThe crew members consisted of: V. M. Yanchenko (pilot-in-command), V. M. Krivulin (co-pilot), N. F. Shirokov (navigator), V. G. Gryaznov (flight mechanic), L. Eremin; M. Khokhreva (flight attendants).[4]
The aircraft took off at 14:25 with 50 adults and one child on board. The crew reported an altitude of 7,800 m (25,600 ft) at 14:38. Shortly afterwards, a passenger gave a flight attendant a letter and requested that it be handed over to the crew. Pilot-in-command (PIC) Yanchenko ordered the flight mechanic, Gryaznov, to leave the cockpit.[1]
The text of the letter read:[5]
Five minutes to read! To the commander and the crew of the aircraft: Dear pilots! I ask you to direct the plane to Sweden, Stockholm Airport. A correct understanding of my request will save your life and mine, and those, through their atrocities, forced me to do this act will be held accountable for this. After a safe landing, I may return to my homeland after a personal conversation with representatives of the highest authorities of the USSR. You see a weapon in my hands. This contains 2 kg 100 g of explosives used in mines, so you don't need to explain what this charge means. Therefore, do not circumvent my request with provocation. Remember that any risk will result in a plane crash. Convince yourself firmly for this, because everything has been calculated and taken into account.
The hijacker, a previously convicted 47-year-old man from the Ukrainian SSR named Ivan Bidyuk,[6] carried a pistol and a hand grenade.[7] Yanchenko had a pistol for last resort but could not shoot Bidyuk as he had a bomb. He was also ordered to "take all measures to prevent the hijacking".[8] While the crew were discussing the situation in the flight deck, the hijacker entered with a bomb in his hands. The pilots turned on the "distress" signal and contacted air traffic control. Earlier, the navigator and flight mechanic went out to neutralise the criminal; but later the navigator returned. Gryaznov, the flight mechanic, stayed outside to convince Bidyuk of his actions.[1]
The plane could not land at Helsinki due to the low fuel remaining. The hijacker demanded that the plane fly to Stockholm, but the PIC did not receive permission from Leningrad ATC to fly to Sweden. PIC Yanchenko decided to land at Leningrad. At an altitude of 120–140 m (390–460 ft), the landing gears were lowered, but the hijacker realised Flight 2420 was landing at Leningrad and detonated the explosives. The aircraft landed 30 seconds after the explosion. The nose gear collapsed and the Tu-104 slid before stopping. The explosion killed Gryaznov and the hijacker.[1][7]
Aftermath
editThe crew members were awarded the following awards for their action during the hijacking:[5]
- Pilot-in-command V. M. Yanchenko — Order of Lenin and Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union
- Flight mechanic V. G. Gryaznov — Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously)
- Co-pilot V. M. Krivulin — Order of the Red Banner
- Navigator N. F. Shirokov — Order of the Red Banner
- Flight attendants L. Eremina and M. Khokhreva — Order of the Red Star
A public garden in Aviagorodok (St. Petersburg) is named after Gryaznov.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Chrezvychaynoye proisshestviye s Tu-104 Severnogo UGA v a/p Leningrad" Чрезвычайное происшествие с Ту-104 Северного УГА в а/п Ленинград. airdisaster.ru (in Russian). Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "UI Tupolev Tu-104B CCCP-42505". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Tupolev Tu-104B: Bortovoy №: СССР-42505" Туполев Ту-104Б: Бортовой №: СССР-42505. russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Vladimir Ivanovich, Arutinov. "Ekipazh Tu-104 Bort 42505" Экипаж ТУ-104 борт 42505. arutinov.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Vladimir Ivanovich, Arutinov. "Reys 2420 Tu-104 № 42505 23-04-1973" Рейс 2420 ТУ-104 № 42505 23-04-1973. arutinov.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Dolgareva, Anna (January 23, 2019). "Pyat' samykh gromkikh zakhvatov samoletov v istorii sovetskoy aviatsii" Пять самых громких захватов самолетов в истории советской авиации. 5TV (in Russian). Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "Crash of a Tupolev Tu-104B in Leningrad: 2 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Interv'yu s pilotom GA Geroyem Sovetskogo Soyuza V.M.Yanchenko" Интервью с пилотом ГА Героем Советского Союза В.М.Янченко. airforce.ru. March 29, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Skver v Aviagorodke poluchil imya Geroya Sovetskogo Soyusa Vikentiya Gryaznova" Сквер в Авиагородке получил имя Героя Советского Союза Викентия Грязнова. spbdnevnik.ru (in Russian). August 6, 2014.