Captain hailed hero after bird strike disables Russian plane

The captain of a Russian passenger jet was hailed as a hero yesterday for landing his plane in a cornfield after it collided with a flock of gulls seconds after takeoff, causing both engines to malfunction. While dozens of people sought medical assistance, only one was hospitalized.

The event drew comparisons to the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson,” when a captain ditched his plane in New York’s Hudson River after a bird strike disabled his engines.

The Ural Airlines A321 carrying 226 passengers and a crew of seven hit the birds as it was taking off from Moscow’s Zhukovsky airport en route for Simferopol, in Crimea.

Russia’s Rosaviatsiya state aviation agency chief Alexander Neradko told reporters that the crew “made the only right decision” to land the fully loaded plane immediately after both of the plane’s engines malfunctioned.

“The crew has shown courage and professionalism and deserve the highest state awards,” he said.

The plane was fully loaded with 16 tons of kerosene, he added.

“Just imagine what the consequences would be if the crew didn’t make the correct decision.”

The airline said the captain, 41-year old Damir Yusupov, is a highly experienced pilot who has logged over 3,000 flight hours. Vladimir Isachenkov, Moscow , AP