« Responder #414 em: Maio 19, 2025, 02:05:41 am »
November 15, 2018.
Usinsk Airport (UUYS) Russia.
On that day, a Boeing 735 operated by UTair Aviation Company was preparing to land at the small northern airport. As the aircraft was descending, the crew reported that they had skidded off the runway due to frost. Meanwhile, four military MiG-31 fighters were conducting training flights overhead. Due to dense fog, the military pilots were unable to land at their base in Vorkuta and were ordered to make an emergency landing at Usinsk.
However, the situation quickly escalated when the military pilots contacted air traffic control requesting landing clearance. The young dispatcher, 25-year-old Aleksey Plitin, faced a critical decision. With limited options and no time for rerouting, he instructed the civilian aircraft to continue down the runway and stop at a designated turnaround area. Simultaneously, he granted clearance for the military jets to land.
The situation became more tense as fuel levels in the MiG fighters dwindled dangerously low. Both aircraft eventually shut down their engines after reaching the turnaround zone, temporarily immobilized on the runway. Additional military aircraft then requested immediate landing clearance amid fuel shortages.
Throughout this tense sequence, Plitin maintained remarkable composure and professionalism. His clear communication and quick decision-making prevented what could have been a catastrophic accident involving multiple aircraft and potentially many lives on the ground.
All five aircraft — four MiG-31 interceptors and one civilian passenger plane — safely landed within 15 minutes. The incident was later investigated by authorities; initially, there was speculation about disciplinary action against Plitin. However, he was ultimately recognized for his exemplary handling of an extraordinary emergency situation.
Following this event, Aleksey Plitin left Usinsk Airport and now works in Syktyvkar in his professional field.
