Civilian aircraft in Bashkiria fired on amid drone fears
In Bashkiria, guards mistakenly fired at a civilian aircraft, thinking it was a Ukrainian drone. Two people were on board and completed their planned flight. The incident has caused considerable outrage and is under investigation by federal authorities.
The war in Ukraine continues. In recent months, the conflict has spilled over into Russian territory, particularly the Kursk region. Ukrainian forces have taken control of some locations. With approval from Joe Biden, they can also strike the enemy by launching missiles up to 190 miles inside the country. This may have contributed to the Russian guards mistaking the aircraft for a Ukrainian drone.
On Wednesday evening in Bashkiria, an incident occurred where guards at an oil facility opened fire on a civilian aircraft. According to "The Moscow Times", the plane was mistaken for a Ukrainian drone. The Antonov An-2 aircraft, often referred to as the "Kukuruznik", was on a photographic mission between Ufa and Salavat.
Bashkiria is located near the Kazakhstan border, straddling Europe and Asia. It is about 750 miles from Ukraine's border. In May, Ukrainian drones attacked the Gazprom oil refinery in Salavat. The processing installation was struck, but there were no significant damages.
The aircraft had two pilots and a photographer on board. Despite having prior clearance for the flight and the navigation lights being on, the aircraft was fired upon at an altitude of about 1,000 feet near the refinery in Salavat.
Despite the gunfire, the plane continued its flight, and there were no injuries reported among the crew. "The Moscow Times" reports that the incident has raised concerns in the region. The Federal Air Transport Agency is overseeing the investigation and resolution of this matter.
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 significant period. The aircraft was also manufactured in Poland and was utilised in Germany, Romania, Egypt, Greece, and India.
