Gerrard Kaonga
Social media users have been left stunned after learning of the harrowing story of a bet between two Russian pilots that resulted in multiple deaths.
The story of Russian Aeroflot Flight 6502 shows how reckless behavior caused the death of 70 people aboard a commercial flight.
On 20 October, 1986, Russian pilot Captain Alexander Klyuyev and co-pilot Gennady Zhirnov took off from Yekaterinburg, heading to Grozny in Russia while carrying 87 passengers and seven crew members.
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Before attempting to land the plane at the destination, Klyuyev made a wager with Zhirnov that he could land the plane ‘blind’, with instruments only. The pair agreed to curtain the cockpit windows so Klyuyev had no visual contact with the ground.
During his descent Klyuyev disobeyed suggestions from air traffic control in order to prove he could successfully land the plane.
The aircraft touched down on the runway at a speed of 150 knots (280 km/h; 170 mph) and subsequently overran the runway, flipping over and bursting into flames.
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This proved to be a fatal decision and resulted in the death of four crew members and 66 members of the public. Among the passengers were 14 children, all who luckily survived the disaster.
The Fascinating X account recently re-shared the story and it has been viewed more two million times.
Many X users questioned why the pilots used the flight opportunity as a chance to gamble with people’s lives.
“Pilots hold the lives of their passengers in their hands, and it is crucial that they prioritize safety above all else,” one wrote.
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“The decision to bet the lives of passengers on a reckless challenge demonstrates a blatant disregard for safety and professionalism. Such actions not only risk the lives of innocent people but also tarnish the reputation of the entire profession.”
Another added: "They not only played with his life but for entire crew of the plane. Also they lost the plane which is very expensive as well."
Klyuyev survived the crashed and was subsequently jailed for 15 years, however he was released after serving six, according to reports.
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Zhirnov had reportedly attempted to save the lives of passengers when he realized the landing was not going to plan but he died of heart failure on the way to hospital that same day.