What began as a lighthearted moment between a father and his children turned into one of the most horrifying aviation tragedies in history.
On March 23, 1994, Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed into the Siberian mountains, killing all 75 people on board—including passengers, crew, and the pilot’s own children. According to The Mirror, the accident was entirely preventable and stemmed from a shocking decision made mid-flight.
The aircraft was operated by a highly experienced flight crew: Captain Andrei Viktorovich Danilov, First Officer Igor Vasilyevich Piskaryov, and Relief Captain Yaroslav Vladimirovich Kudrinsky. Together, they had logged thousands of flight hours and were responsible for piloting the Airbus A310 on its route from Moscow to Hong Kong.
This flight held personal significance for Relief Captain Kudrinsky—it was the first international trip for his children, Yana (13) and Eldar (15). Hoping to create a special memory, he invited them into the cockpit during the flight.
At first, it seemed harmless. The kids were allowed to sit in the captain’s seat and “pretend” to fly the plane—something that had reportedly occurred on previous flights without incident. But this time, a small mistake would trigger a deadly chain reaction.