Miracle in the Cornfield (Ural Airlines, Flight 178)

On Thursday the 15th of August 2019 a Ural Airlines, Flight 178, travelling from Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA/UUBW) to Simferopol Airport (SIP/URFF) was substantially damaged when it was forced to land in a cornfield shortly after takeoff due to a dual bird strike and engine failure. The aircraft with 226 passengers and 7 crew, was in the initial climb through 750 feet out of Zkukovsky's runway one two when the aircraft flew through a flock of seagulls and ingested birds into both engines.

Because of the loss of thrust and incorrect actions by the flight crew, the A321 couldn't gain enough speed or altitude to climb safely. The plane belly-landed and skidded across a cornfield, coming to a stop with significant damage. All 233 people on board survived, though 28 were injured, including 3 with serious injuries.

After the accident, the crew was widely praised by citizens and the media for safely landing and evacuating the aircraft without any fatalities. Many compared it to the US Airways Flight 1549 incident, where a plane made an emergency landing in the Hudson River after bird strikes caused dual engine failure, also without fatalities. Dubbed the Miracle in the Cornfield by Russians, the event led to the Kremlin honoring the flight crew with the Hero of the Russian Federation, the nation’s highest civilian award, and the cabin crew with the Order of Courage.

The aircraft was written off in the accident and deemed as a hull loss by Ural Airlines. The airline announced that it would be scrapped in the field and did not plan to reuse parts of it. The Interstate Aviation Committee subsequently moved pieces of the aircraft to the airport as part of the investigation.
Ural Airlines offered 100,000 ₽ (US$1,358) in compensation to the passengers of the flight.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Ural Airlines

Code: U6/SVR

Aircraft: Airbus A321-211

Registration: VQ-BOZ

Serial Number: 2117

Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-5B3/P

First Flew: 16/12/2003

Age: 15.5 Years