Plane Loses $368 Million Cargo of Gold, Platinum and Diamonds During Takeoff
A Nimbus Airlines AN-12 cargo plane ran into some trouble during take off from Yakutsk airport today, causing it to lose its ten tonnes of gold, platinum and diamonds after it fell out of the cargo hold onto the runway. The total amount of gold, platinum and diamonds on-board totaled 21 billion roubles – or $368 million USD.
The airport’s runway has been sealed off while police search for the missing cargo, however it’ll be a long search as some of the gold bars were found 26 kilometers from the airport. After learning about the incident, the crew on-board the plane landed it a nearby airport, Magan, 26 kilometers north-west of Yakutsk. Technical engineers at Yakutsk airport who prepared the plane for takeoff have been detained, however it’s unsure if this was deliberate or accidental.
The plane was en route to Krasnoyarsk, with its final destination at Kupol gold mine. The cargo is said to be owned by Chukota Mining and Geological company, with Canadian Kinross Gold having a 75 per cent stake in the company.
