Russian Plane Loses $378 Million In Gold After Door Breaks Upon Takeoff
A plane in Russia carrying $378 million worth of gold, platinum and diamonds lost its cargo on Thursday after its door broke off upon takeoff, according to The Moscow Times. I'm sure the pilot feels great today.
Images posted on Twitter showed a runway with gold and platinum scattered about, while police secured and cordoned off the area. Airport officials told a local news agency that strong winds blew off the door of a Nimbus Airline An-12 cargo plane in the very, very cold city of Yakutsk, in east Siberia.
The plane made an emergency landing in a village about 12 kilometers from Yakutsk, reported the Moscow Times. Some gold fell out as far as 26 kilometers away from the airport, according to the Siberian Times.
It's -21C in Yakutia, sunny, we expect showers of diamond, platinum and gold... Plane loses its $368 million cargo; gems and precious metals rain over Russia's coldest region as police and secret services stage emergency search https://t.co/NsUeOWxZf5 pic.twitter.com/8OXd6Al9is
— The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) March 15, 2018
At least 172 bars of gold had been recovered, one government official reportedly told the state-run TASS news outlet. In total, the estimated luggage was worth $378 million.
The Siberian Times said the cargo was reported to be owned by Chukota Mining and Geological company, and 75 percent of the company is owner by Canadian Kinross Gold.
I wish I had a plane of gold.