Kathrine Frich
The crew pleaded for the fire to stop.
The crew pleaded for the fire to stop.
Russia Nearly Shoots Down Civilian Plane
A Russian air defense unit opened fire on a civilian passenger plane, thinking it was a Ukrainian drone, in what could have become a devastating tragedy.
The aircraft, an Aeroflot Boeing 737-800, managed to land safely.
“We Are Under Active Fire”
Cockpit audio revealed the chilling moment the pilot frantically radioed that his plane was being targeted.
“We are the target of air defense… There are people here,” he said.
The crew pleaded for the fire to stop, this was no military aircraft.
Missiles Fly Near Moscow Airport
The incident happened near Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, one of Russia’s busiest.
It was 12:20 local time when the military launched a Pantsir-S missile system, right as the plane was preparing to land.
The Flight That Nearly Ended in Flames
Aeroflot Flight AFL1845 had taken off from Minsk and was just minutes from landing when it was allegedly mistaken for a hostile drone.
Miraculously, it only suffered minor damage and landed safely with passengers unharmed.
Only Silence From the Kremlin
Despite public concern and damning audio, Russian authorities have refused to comment on the incident.
As usual, the Kremlin stays silent while civilian lives hang in the balance.
Not the First Time Russia Fired on Civilians
This isn’t an isolated case.
Similar incidents have occurred, including the infamous MH17 tragedy, for which Russia was found responsible just this week by the European Court of Human Rights.
Echoes of a Deadly Past
The news comes days after reports suggested that Russia was behind the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in December, killing 38 people.
Now another close call adds fuel to the fire.
Drone Hysteria Spreads Chaos in Russian Skies
As Ukraine ramps up drone attacks deep into Russian territory, Moscow’s jittery air defense crews appear to be firing at shadows, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Is Flying Over Russia Safe Anymore?
With trigger-happy defense systems and no clear coordination, aviation experts warn that airspace over parts of Russia is becoming increasingly dangerous for civilian aircraft.
