An-12 drops 3.4 Tons of gold...

[andrasz]

An An-12 dropped 3.4 tons of 20kg gold bars on the runway of Yakutsk during take-off earlier today. Apparently the cargo was improperly secured, shifted on takeoff and smashed open the left door (? sic) of the cargo compartment. The aircraft made an emergency landing at the airfield of Magan 12 kilometres away. The aircraft was carrying 12 tons of gold plus a smaller quantity of platinum and diamonds, it made a refuelling stop in Yakutsk. Apparently all 172 lost bars were recovered. (Reported by MTI)

This could have ended much worse, Bagram comes to mind...

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by andrasz

Apparently the cargo was improperly secured, shifted on takeoff and smashed open the left door (? sic) of the cargo compartment.

That would be the door opposite the one on the right hand side.

[ATC Watcher]

Photos show it went through the loading door, not any side doors. lots of corrosion visible , the net exploded, good for them in the end !

[andrasz]

That would be the door opposite the one on the right hand side

My questionmark was prompted by the fact that the An-12 has neither left nor right door, just the loading ramp...


Here is the photo of the airplane after the accident:

[boaclhryul]

That would make the loading ramp the only door that was left.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by ATC Watcher

Photos show it went through the loading door, not any side doors

The rear loading door on those An-12s not equipped with a ramp is divided longitudinally into two halves.

One half is on the left hand side of the centreline and the other on the right.

[andrasz]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

The rear loading door on those An-12s not equipped with a ramp is divided longitudinally into two halves.

One always learns...

[juice]

Photo of runway here

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/russian-ru...144900561.html

[cappt]

I'm guessing the stack of precious tipped over approximately VR and the weight of it falling onto the door was too much.
Secretly hoping some lucky Yukut finds a slab in his garden come spring.

[lomapaseo]

Must have been quite a job accounting for all the slabs. I suspect some might have blown away in the wind or accounted for some of the first responders limping afterwards

[ex-EGLL]

Originally Posted by boaclhryul

That would make the loading ramp the only door that was left.

That's right.

[Richard Taylor]

Never mind all that, what's the quickest way to Yakutsk?

[steve_oc]

Always wanted to say this. A hole has appeared in an aircraft loading door. Police are looking into it.

[Danny42C]

Google: "1944 Bombay Dock Explosion". From Wiki:

...."many intact gold bars have been found over time – some as late as February 2011 – and they have since been returned to the government"....

I heard a different story out there at the time!

[pasta]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

One half is on the left hand side of the centreline and the other on the right.

And only the one on the right is left...

[Mostly Harmless]

So glad this didn't turn into a loss of life.

[sandiego89]

And sources assign a $300 million+ street value to the cargo. Bet a clapped out An-12 is valued a tad bit less than that.....

[andrasz]

Originally Posted by steve_oc

A hole has appeared in an aircraft loading door. Police are looking into it.

Took me three readings for it to sink in

[601]

One half is on the left hand side of the centreline and the other on the right.

Don't we have Port and Starboard on aircraft any more?

[llondel]

Originally Posted by 601

Don't we have Port and Starboard on aircraft any more?

I think they replaced the Port with gin.