Tons of gold and silver spilled all over the runway on one of the coldest regions of the world after cargo door of an aircraft were left open while taking off.
Nimbus Airlines Antonov AN-12 cargo plane carrying 9.3 tons of precious metals lost part of its cargo Thursday as it was taking off from Yakutsk Airport in Siberia scattering at least 3 tons of gold on the runway along with other precious elements.
The cargo was reported to be owned by Chukota Mining and Geological company; 75 per cent of the private company is owner by Canadian Kinross Gold.
The plane had been taking off after refueling at the airport when its cargo door flew open. The precious metals were brought from Kupol mine of Russia that weighed about 18600 pounds. The plane which was headed for the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk had been forced to turn back to the airport.
Police sealed off the runway and a vast search is underway.
Russian spokesman for the Canadian mining company Kinross Gold, which operates the Kupol mine told that all fallen cargo had been recovered in full.
