"The Day That Decided Everything": stories of those who missed the A321 flight. For flights that ended in a plane crash, people are late and return tickets more often than for ordinary ones Who did not get on the plane

The plane crash over the Black Sea was a great tragedy for the whole of Russia. She claimed the lives of 92 people. But there could have been more victims. The portal tells about those who, by a happy coincidence, postponed the flight and, thanks to this, survived.

Three people from the choir

On board the crashed plane were eight crew members, nine journalists, eight military personnel and two federal civil servants, the head of a charitable foundation. " Fair help"Elizaveta Glinka and 64 artists of the Alexandrov Song and Dance Ensemble, who flew to congratulate the Russian Aerospace Forces air group at the Khmeimim airbase on the New Year. All the choir members were on the plane, except for three soloists - Vadim Ananyev, Valery Gavva, Boris Dyakov.

The lead singer of the ensemble, Vadim Ananyev, has a child. On this occasion, the father of many children asked to stay at home. Valeriy Gavva was recently operated on. Boris Dyakov was supposed to have a responsible speech on December 26. Therefore, three soloists were allowed to stay in Moscow. The rest of the choir went to Syria. It was planned that the ensemble would give a concert and immediately fly to Moscow. This was their last flight.

The ensemble says that there are 186 artists in total. But it was decided not to take the orchestra with us on a trip to Syria. The stage at the Khmeimim base is small, it could not accommodate all the musicians. The artists were supposed to perform songs to the backing track.

Head of HRC under the President

Mikhail Fedotov, the head of the Presidential Council for the Promotion of Civil Society and Human Rights, was to become a passenger on the plane. According to Fedotov himself, he planned to fly to Syria with the director of the Fair Aid Foundation Elizaveta Glinka. They were supposed to deliver medicines to a hospital in Latakia province. But then Fedotov's plans changed. By a happy coincidence, he was not on that fatal plane in which no one managed to survive.

Joseph Kobzon and Toto Cutugno

The news of the plane crash in the Black Sea shocked many. People's Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon was one step away from death. He very often performed with the Alexandrov ensemble. The artist was also called on this trip to Syria. He stayed in Russia for lack of a medical visa.

The famous Italian singer Toto Cutugno could also be on the list of victims. As the artist himself told the press, he was also supposed to perform at a New Year's concert in front of the Russian military. V last moment he changed his plans due to a busy work schedule.

Recall that the plane of the Ministry of Defense TU-154, heading for Russian base Khmeimim in Syria, crashed over the Black Sea on December 25, two minutes after takeoff from Adler airport. A search operation continues in the area of ​​the crash. The wreckage of the plane was found 1.5 km from the coast at a depth of 50-70 meters. According to preliminary data, the reason for the crash of the Tu-154 was a technical malfunction or a piloting error.

An experienced American pilot Patrick Smith, without hiding anything, answered 17 questions that worry all those who often choose an airplane as a means of transportation. Or he is just getting ready for his first flight, biting his lips with excitement. From turbulence to landing - now you can't hide anything from us!

1. Is turbulence dangerous?

It is extremely rare that turbulence inflicts structural damage on an aircraft. Passenger injuries are common, however, mainly due to people not wearing seat belts when asked to do so. Normal turbulence can be uncomfortable, but it poses no threat.

It was surprising to know how many people fear turbulence. From the pilot's point of view, this air condition actually makes the flight more comfortable. It is a little annoying, but still not capable of flipping the plane in the air or in any way contributing to the tragic scenario that people for some reason draw in their heads.

I call this phenomenon the “passenger exaggeration factor,” or FPF. Many people think that during turbulence, an aircraft can crash downward by tens of meters, although in fact, even under the most difficult conditions, the aircraft's displacement does not exceed 6 meters.

2. Why are they asked to turn off mobile phones during takeoff and landing? What happens if you leave it on?

It is unlikely that a mobile phone can cause cockpit malfunctions, especially on modern aircraft, where all the data is displayed, but this is not impossible.

I believe that at least half of the passengers have their phones turned on anyway. And if they could cause disasters, then today we would have much more evidence.

However, telephones could have played a role in two serious incidents. But the key word here is "could." Some experts blame the switched on devices for the fall of a Swiss plane on a domestic flight in 2000, arguing that excess radio waves disabled the autopilot. There were similar suspicions after the plane crash in New Zealand in 2003.

But in the end, phones are more of a social problem than a technological one. That is, do you really want to listen to 200 people talking to someone at the same time in an enclosed space? It is likely that airlines are using this technical rationale simply to avoid a lot of phone calls on board.

3. What happens if there is a problem with the landing gear during landing?

Aircraft support system malfunctions are far from the hierarchy of things a pilot can worry about. If something happens to your aircraft, the landing gear is one of the least dangerous areas. The only exceptions would be a tire burst or fire after a high speed takeoff. Otherwise, chassis problems are easy to fix.

The worst-case scenario is a complete failure of the landing gear exhaust system. In this case, you will have to make a more or less solid landing on the belly of the aircraft. There is a possibility of a rupture of the fuel tank, but because of the emergency devices located nearby, even this does not pose a particular danger.

4. Can a passenger knock out an airplane window? And is it true that in this case everyone will be sucked into it and thrown overboard?

These windows are much stronger than they seem. But if, due to an accident or as a result of someone's malicious intent, the window is still broken, the plane will quickly decompress. It is theoretically possible, although it is very unlikely that in the first few seconds someone can be sucked in, but there will definitely not be a disaster in the style of Hollywood films.

5. Is it dangerous to fly during a storm? What happens if lightning strikes the plane?

By using airborne radar, along with data provided by air flight control, pilots avoid thunderstorm areas like ships avoid icebergs. However, lightning strikes do occur occasionally and aircraft are designed accordingly. The charge does not pass through the cabin, hitting the passengers - it is redirected overboard, partly through the static spark gap wicks along the rear edges of the fenders and tail. In nine cases out of ten, this system eliminates almost all the consequences of a strike.

Damage does occur from time to time, and most often the electronic systems of the aircraft are affected. In 1963, lightning caused an explosion on board Pan Am 707. Since then, several new protective measures have been created on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, including modifying the fuel tank and installing these same wicks. But that was over 50 years ago, and I don’t know of any other serious incidents related to lightning strikes.

6. Tell us about the most frightening experience that happened to you during the flight.

The worst thing that ever happened to me was an almost complete mid-air collision. At the time I was 21 years old and flew in a four-seater plane. We worked in accordance with the "Visual Flight Rules" in uncontrolled airspace. But the fact that it was a very long time ago, and I was in a small plane in very primitive conditions, should emphasize the safety civil aviation... I have been in the service since 1990, and during this entire period, no other frightening incident has crossed my mind.

7. What happens if the engine stops working during the flight?

Everything passenger aircraft certified to fly with a defective engine. Every aircraft must be able to accelerate and climb even with complete engine failure during takeoff. This ensures that the faulty plane leaves the perimeter of the airport and does not crash on buildings, mountains, TV antennas and the like.

The aircraft is checked before every departure to ensure safe take-off and avoid any other problems. Airport height, runway length and weather conditions are all important factors. With shorter runways, high temperatures or mountainous terrain, excess cargo can be removed from the aircraft, reducing its overall weight.

8. How likely is it that the plane will crash?

Let me answer this way: The last decade has been the safest in the history of civil aviation. And 2015 was the safest year, respectively.

For comparison, the 60-80s were the era of terrible accidents, disasters and terrorist attacks. In 1985, there were 27 (!) Serious aviation accidents, in which about two and a half thousand people died.

Small-scale incidents have become much less common. It may seem that over time everything more planes crash, but this perception is largely the result of the media and their relentless recording of even the smallest incidents, exacerbated by the effects of social media.

9. How did you become a pilot?

It just so happened historically that most airline pilots got into this industry and gained experience in armed forces... However, nowadays most pilots (I am one of them) get at the helm in civilian ways. This is a long and very expensive process that involves the slow accumulation of flight hours along with compulsory licenses and ratings.

After gaining the necessary experience, you usually start your career with one of the regional carriers. Very few pilots start crossing the oceans right away. But an increasing number of airlines are moving towards a pilot training program called “Ab-Initio,” in which individual pilots are trained from scratch, so to speak, with no prior experience.

10. Is there a period in training when you are still a beginner, but already in the cockpit?

After completing classroom training and simulator training for a particular type of aircraft, pilots begin to accumulate a certain number of flight hours under the guidance of an experienced pilot. Moreover, this happens during regular flights with passengers on board.

11. How big is the share of autopilot in aircraft control? And how big is your share?

Cockpit automation, and how pilots interact with this automation, is the most misunderstood topic in all of civil aviation. People have a very distorted idea of ​​what an autopilot is and what it is capable of.

Indeed, pilots have come to rely on a different, more advanced set of automated aircraft skills than they did a few decades ago. However, even the most ordinary flight can contain countless contingencies that the crew must cope with.

It is sometimes said that pilots "spend only three minutes actually piloting their plane on a regular flight." Such claims are very misleading. The truth sounds a little different - pilots nowadays spend relatively short time physically holding their hands on the steering wheel. The difference is obvious.

And this does not mean at all that we are not in control of the flight. The cockpit automation does not control the aircraft - it is controlled by the crew through this very automation. Autopilot still needs to tell you what to do, when and how.

The comparison between flight and medicine is perhaps the best: modern technology helps a pilot fly an airplane in the same way that it helps a surgeon to perform operations successfully. A jet airliner cannot "fly by itself," just as an operating room cannot "by itself" remove a tumor or perform an organ transplant.

How do you like these numbers? Over 99% of landings and 100% of take-offs are done manually, with the captain or chief mate at the helm.

12. Was there a time when a plane flying by you was too, even frighteningly close?

Coming back to the previous question - only once, when I was a private pilot and flew a four-seater plane. Passengers often misunderstand the distances between aircraft. This is another example of FPP.

“When we flew to Paris, another plane flew so close to us that we could see people inside it!” - Someone remembers excitedly.

Landing on parallel runways or crossing perpendicularly on high altitude planes can be relatively close to each other. But "proximity" in air transport management is measured at least in hundreds of meters. For a particularly agitated passenger, this distance is noticeably distorted, becoming critical. But the fact is that the planes are quite large, so a Boeing 747 flying three hundred meters above or below you seems extremely close. But trust me, you've never flown close enough to another plane to be able to see the faces of the passengers in those little windows.

13. Why do all planes fly at an altitude of about ten and a half thousand meters?

Typical cruising altitudes range from 9,000 meters to 12,000. The assigned altitude depends on the data of the airspace control service and, of course, the capabilities of the aircraft. Each aircraft has a maximum allowable flight altitude. But there is an important factor - the higher you fly, the less fuel you use.

But the fact that the plane is capable of flying at an altitude of 12 thousand meters does not guarantee its stay there. Dispatchers controlling air space, you may have your own thoughts on this and / or the plane may be overloaded. Sometimes we climb to a more "efficient" altitude when the fuel is used up heavily.

14. How does it feel to fly through clouds in the dark when you can't see anything at all?

It's dark and you can't see anything at all.

15. Is a collision with birds dangerous?

Collisions with birds happen quite often, but they rarely lead to sad consequences - unless, of course, you do not consider the issue from a bird's point of view. But in general, there have been cases in history when, for example, after a collision with a herd of geese, both engines of the plane failed.

Modern turbofans are resilient, but by no means do they perform better against the intrusion of foreign objects, especially those that crash into the rotating blades at high speeds. Birds do not clog the engine, but they can bend or even destroy the inner blades, causing a loss of power. The heavier the bird, the more damage it can do.

So, your next question is why engines with shields in front have not been created? Well, besides the fact that it would partially block the air flow, the screen would have to be large (presumably cone-shaped) and incredibly strong. If it is broken, not only a bird will get into the engine, but also pieces of metal. Despite the above incidents, the low likelihood of multiple engine losses due to bird strikes makes such an innovation impractical.

16. Are you eating the same food as the passengers?

It depends on the airline, but as a rule, pilots and flight attendants are provided with meals on any flight that lasts longer than five hours. In some, the crew gets separate food from everyone, but usually we get the same food that is served in first or business class (yes, all dishes, including soup, salads and desserts).

At the same time, passengers remain in priority - we get what is left. Given the likelihood of food poisoning, pilots are encouraged to eat different meals, but this is by no means a mandatory procedure. In practice, it comes down to your preference and what's available. On short flights, we're on our own - eating pretzels, peanuts, pizza from an airport cafe, or just grabbing something from home.

17. Are you allowed to listen to music while flying? If so, what is your playlist?

Not allowed, but I'll still tell you what's in my personal playlist: the greatest hits for pilots, including Hüsker Dü, the Clash, The Wedding Present and the Mountain Goats, as well as Billy Bragg.

From mid-February 2018 Russian airline Aeroflot is tightening the rules for the carriage of hand luggage. From now on, you will not be able to take with you a laptop, book, camera, camcorder or umbrella in addition to the free 10 kg of carry-on luggage - all these items will be taken into account when weighing. In addition, if earlier it was possible to add a backpack of any weight to your carry-on baggage (the main thing is that you could carry it yourself), now you can put only no more than 5 kg in it. And seriously shopping in duty-free will also not work: you can carry on board only 1 sealed bag with dimensions in total no more than 115 cm.

It will hardly be possible to slip through without attracting attention, at least at Sheremetyevo airport, where Aeroflot has established a separate inspection zone. Allowable weight and dimensions of hand luggage: 10 kg and 55x40x25 cm.Therefore, it is best to check these indicators at home so that you do not rush to the check-in counter at the airport to check it carry-on luggage in your luggage and not be late for your flight.

In addition, airline and airport employees may not allow you on the flight - or at least make it difficult to board - for many more reasons, and clearly defined by law. Let's take a look at some of them. You will not fly away if:

1. You will refuse pre-flight inspection

Security screening is carried out at the airport or at aircraft authorized persons of the aviation security services with the participation of employees of the internal affairs bodies. The inspection is carried out after the implementation of passport and customs control. The passenger is obliged to go through security screening and provide his baggage for inspection, otherwise the passenger may not be allowed on the plane.

2. Your passport has expired

And we are talking not only about passports, which have already expired. If your passport is valid for another 5 months and 29 days, and you are flying to a country that requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months, then you will be wrapped up while passing passport control(or even earlier - at the check-in counter for the flight).

3. You will refuse to pay for your baggage

Refusal to pay for the carriage of your baggage, the weight of which exceeds the established norms, is a sufficient reason to remove the passenger from the flight.

4. You will refuse to pay for the child

Let me remind you that a child under the age of two can fly free of charge without providing him with a free seat; children under the age of 12 are transported at a reduced rate with the provision of separate seats.

5. You have items or substances prohibited for air carriage

In this case, the passenger will have to get rid of the item prohibited for carriage (throw it away, hand it over to those seeing off, etc.) in order to get on board the aircraft. It is clear that if we are talking about the discovery of, say, drugs, then we need to think not about how to get on the flight, but about how to avoid jail.

6. You're drunk

Most likely, a drunk passenger is not will pass inspection and will not be allowed on board the aircraft. At the same time, he can safely go through security, and then buy alcohol in the duty-free shop and, frankly, get drunk, and then get on the plane. If he violates the rules of conduct on the plane (brawling, pestering other passengers, interfering with flight attendants or stewards, bawling songs, etc.), which poses a threat to the safety of the aircraft flight or a threat to the life or health of others, then such a passenger will be removed from the side of the plane.

7. You do not follow the orders of the aircraft commander

The commander is the main figure on board the aircraft. He has the right to give orders to any passenger (regardless of his status and position in ordinary life), who is on board the aircraft, and demand their execution. Moreover, the pilot-in-command has the right to apply coercive measures against persons who by their actions create an immediate threat to the safety of the aircraft's flight and refuse to obey his orders. As a rule, such passengers are drunk people (see item 6), who are removed from the plane by the ship commander.

8. Your health condition requires special conditions of air transportation.

A passenger may not be allowed on board the aircraft if his health condition requires special conditions air transportation either endangers the safety of the passenger himself (let's say he is under a dropper) or other persons, which is confirmed by medical documents. Moreover, to special conditions transportation does not include, for example, the peculiarities of transportation of disabled people.

However, a disabled person must in advance - during the purchase of an air ticket - warn the carrier about the peculiarities of his health, and the seller does not even have the right to demand the appropriate medical documents and must take their word for it. Moreover, a disabled person cannot be denied a flight due to the lack of appropriate technical equipment (for example, wheelchairs or stretchers). A disabled person (another person with disabilities) must be met at the airport and transferred (including on a wheelchair provided by the carrier, if necessary) to the building at no additional charge (!), He must be assisted during check-in. If a disabled person cannot move independently, then his boarding and disembarking from the plane is carried out using a special lifting device (ambulift). For people with hearing or vision impairments, all relevant information should be appropriately duplicated. Exception: if a passenger is simultaneously disabled in hearing and vision or a disabled person under the age of twelve, then his carriage is carried out accompanied by a passenger who assists him in flight. Otherwise, such a passenger will not be allowed on board the aircraft.

Disputes often arise if the passenger is a pregnant woman (airline employees, for example, require relevant certificates). So, from the point of view of the law of the Russian Federation, there are no restrictions on the transportation of pregnant women.

Do you have to fight if you are removed from the flight if the specified conditions are met? Most likely, such attempts will be useless. Compliance with the rules is aimed at ensuring the safety of the flight, and it is better not to break the law if you want to be guaranteed to fly away. However, it should be added that the burden of proving the existence of these conditions lies with the carrier.

Among those killed in the crash of the Tu-154 Ministry of Defense, which fell this morning into the Black Sea 1.5 km from the coast of Sochi, there could have been several more people who, for one reason or another, did not get on board, MIR 24 reports.

The deputy head of the State Duma Committee on Culture, People's Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon said that he could also go to Syria on the same liner. He was invited to the concert by the head of the ensemble. Aleksandrova Valery Khalilov, TASS reports.

“I said that I have a medical visa and I have to fly for treatment, especially since I have visited Syria with them and with Khalilov once. Therefore, I said: next time, somehow, ”explained Kobzon himself, who called the catastrophe a tragedy for Russian culture.

The head of the Human Rights Council (HRC) Mikhail Fedotov said that he wanted to fly to Syria on the same flight, and human rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova could join him, but they were not allowed.

Even with careful planning of air travel, unforeseen situations may arise. They cause you to miss your flight. What to do in this case?

If you are late for check-in, but the plane has not yet taken off

There is a way out of this situation. The first option is to contact an airline employee. He will tell you how to proceed if you are late for check-in for the plane. What should a latecomer do? There is another option - you need to go to a special counter where late passengers are checked in for the flight. This service is chargeable and can be quite expensive. But that’s better than canceling the trip altogether.

If you are late for boarding

This can happen if the passenger passed online registration... He no longer needed to arrive at the airport several hours before. He could spend this time at his own discretion.

It should be noted that there is a time frame for servicing the aircraft at the airport. Boarding ends 20-25 minutes before departure. This time is allotted so that all passengers sit in their seats and get ready for the flight.

If you miss your plane, you need to contact an airline employee for help. Perhaps he will be able to take you on board, having previously informed that the passenger is delayed.

Important! If the boarding has already been completed, being late may be fraught with penalties. They are used as a result of delays caused by the fault of the passenger.

To prevent this from happening, you need to check in on time and get on the plane.

If you are late for check-in and the plane has already taken off

And this situation is not considered hopeless. If it occurs, you need to contact an airline employee for help. He will tell you all the nuances of returning your boarding pass.

Generally, business and first class passengers can redeem them for boarding passes for the next flight. In this case, you need to pay a small commission. If you have economy or tourist class air tickets, you will have to return them and purchase new ones for a suitable flight.

Boarding passes for aircraft are returned in accordance with the established rules of the airline.

Before buying a ticket, you need to carefully read the fares and conditions of return on the official website of the air carrier.

If a passenger misses the plane, and the ticket was purchased through an intermediary, he needs to contact him directly.

In this case, it is worth considering the following:

1. There are two types of air tickets - refundable and non-refundable. The latter will not accept a return and will not refund money for them. There are exceptions, which are described in the airline's boarding pass return policy.
2. The commission will be written off not only in favor of the air carrier, but also in favor of the intermediary.
3. At the time of buying single air ticket for a connecting flight, subsequent tickets will be canceled.

It will turn out to return a small percentage of the air ticket price.

If you miss your connecting flight

In this case, the situation is a little more complicated. If the passenger missed the plane, and there is a transfer during the flight, the ticket for the second flight will have to be canceled. It will not be possible to return the money for it. You need to purchase a new ticket.

A similar situation can occur if the passenger did not get on the flight, and tickets were purchased on both sides of the route. Second boarding pass also subject to cancellation. Airlines return for it cash minus commission and service fees.

Advice! To avoid conflict situations, you need to familiarize yourself with the fares and rules for returning tickets on the airline's website. You can also do this by calling the operator.

If you missed your connecting flight due to the fault of the air carrier

In this case, contact a company representative. If the flight is operated by another carrier, you need to go to its check-in counter and put a mark on the delayed departure.

According to the established rules, the carrier is obliged to provide customers with the following:

• free telephone for calls;
• a hotel room if the flight is delayed for more than 8 hours;
• free meals.

Coupons for it can be obtained from the representative of the airline.

This is all possible if the passenger has purchased one flight ticket with a transfer. If he has bought two separate boarding passes, the airline is not responsible for being late for the second flight.

Can I get a refund if I missed my plane?

Many passengers are interested in how to get money for a ticket back. This can be done. It is better to ask the airline employee how to get your boarding pass refunded. Also, this information is posted on the websites of all companies.

Funds are returned in full in such cases:

• delay or postponement of the flight due to the fault of the carrier;
• cancellation of boarding at the destination due to unforeseen circumstances;
• flight delay for several hours due to the fault of the airline;
• changing the aircraft model;
• death of the passenger or his close relatives.

Whether the money will be returned for non-refundable tickets is a moot point. If the coupon was purchased at a low cost, it is unlikely that it will be possible to get money for it. Business and First Class tickets can be exchanged.