Investigation Summary
The accident was triggered by a flock of seagulls attracted to illegal waste dumps near the airport. During rotation, birds were ingested into both CFM56 engines. The left engine suffered a surge and a momentary false 'open thrust-reverser door' indication, while the right engine's thrust dropped below idle. The investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) highlighted that the crew's response was disorganized by stress. Specifically, the pilots failed to retract the landing gear, which created excessive drag that prevented the aircraft from maintaining altitude. Although the crew was hailed as heroes in Russia, the MAK report noted that the aircraft might have been capable of continuing flight had the gear been retracted and proper pitch maintained. Notably, the official final report was not formally published by the MAK until November 2025, following years of delays and the circulation of leaked drafts.
Final Conclusions
The MAK concluded the accident resulted from a bird strike involving 'large' category birds exceeding certification standards. However, the inability to continue flight was exacerbated by the crew's failure to retract the landing gear and manage engine thrust effectively. Contributing factors included poor wildlife management at Zhukovsky Airport, the presence of bird-attracting landfills, and a lack of specific regulatory guidance for suspected bird hazards during takeoff.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
CFM56-5B3/P Engines
Both engines suffered mechanical damage and thrust loss after ingesting multiple birds.
Landing Gear
The crew failed to retract the gear, which prevented the aircraft from overcoming drag to climb.
ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor)
Displayed a false 'REV ISOL' (reverser isolation) warning due to bird strike vibrations, distracting the crew.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was an Airbus A321-211, MSN 2117, manufactured in 2003.
- 02All 233 occupants survived; 28 sustained injuries, 3 of which were classified as serious.
- 03The landing gear remained extended throughout the entire flight, significantly increasing drag.
- 04The birds involved were seagulls, some weighing over 1.13 kg, exceeding 'large bird' certification limits.
- 05The pilots were awarded the 'Hero of the Russian Federation' title shortly after the accident.
- 06Illegal landfills near the airport were identified as the primary reason for the high bird concentration.
- 07The official MAK final report was subject to a multi-year delay, only being formally released in November 2025.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Waste Management Reform
Russian authorities were ordered to close illegal landfills and waste sites within a 15km radius of airports to reduce bird strike risks.
Regulatory Update
The Russian Ministry of Transport invalidated the outdated ROOP GA-89 wildlife management document in 2020 to align with ICAO standards.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Heroism vs. Pilot Error
Reference ↗While the Kremlin officially hailed the pilots as heroes, the leaked MAK report suggested the emergency was survivable through standard procedures (like gear retraction) and that the landing in the cornfield was a result of the crew being overwhelmed by stress.