Civilian aircraft mistaken for drone prompts security scare in Bashkiria
In Bashkiria, guards fired at a civilian aircraft, mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone. Two people on board completed the planned flight in full. The incident caused considerable outrage and is currently being investigated by federal services.
The war in Ukraine continues. In recent months, the conflict has also moved to Russian territory, particularly in the Kursk region. The Ukrainians have taken control of some localities. With approval from Joe Biden, they can also attack the enemy by firing missiles even 305 kilometres deep into the country. This may have been one of the reasons why the Russians mistook their aircraft for a Ukrainian drone.
On Wednesday evening in Bashkiria, there was an incident where guards at an oil facility opened fire on a civilian aircraft. According to "The Moscow Times", the aircraft was mistaken for a Ukrainian drone. The Antonov An-2 aircraft, known as the "Kukuruznik", was on a photographic mission between Ufa and Salavat.
Bashkiria is located near the border with Kazakhstan, lying in both Europe and Asia. It is also about 1,210 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. In May, the Gazprom oil refinery in Salavat was attacked by Ukrainian drones. The processing installation was hit, but there were no major damages.
The aircraft had two pilots and a photographer on board. Despite prior clearance for the flight and the navigation lights being on, the aircraft was fired upon at an altitude of around 300 metres near the refinery in Salavat.
Despite the gunfire, the plane continued its flight. There were no injuries reported among the crew. "The Moscow Times" reports that the situation has caused concern in the region. The shooting incident is being handled by the Federal Air Transport Agency. An investigation and explanation of this matter are underway.
The Antonov An-2 is one of the largest single-engine biplanes in the world. It was produced from 1949 to 1996 and held the title of the longest-produced aircraft in history for a long time. The aircraft was also manufactured in Poland and was used in Germany, Romania, Egypt, Greece, and India.
