The clip from Sheremetyevo International has done just that, reviving the conversation on security after the pair were seen sprinting toward an Aeroflot jet they had missed. The 25 July footage of the chase may have put a stop to ground operations for a time, but it did not prevent the departure before the women were put under escort.
What happened on the tarmac
If one watches the video, the passengers can be seen with their luggage in tow making for an aircraft already being pulled from its stand. One of them is waving at the cockpit in what appears to be a plea to the crew to hold on. A ground worker is on the radio to his colleagues as he closes in on them.
By all accounts the aircraft was being towed when they made their way into the restricted zone, forcing the crews to call a halt. Transport police and airport staff were on hand to see to it the women would not be boarding and had to make other plans.
Operational and safety implications
Passengers have no business on the apron. With service vehicles and ground staff working in close quarters, an unauthorised person is an immediate hazard. The short interruption to the towing was a clear indication of how fast things have to change on the airside when the perimeter is compromised.
But the airline’s process was not derailed by the affair. The Aeroflot flight went on its way. It is a matter of prioritising the schedule and safety over any last-minute entreaties once an aircraft is in motion.
Penalties and precedent
Under Russian law the passengers could be looking at fines in the region of 45 for the breach of security. Should it be viewed as an international infraction, that figure can go as high as 260. We have not been able to verify the destination or flight number independently.
This is hardly unique. Back in May a passenger at a different Russian airport was fined some 30 for a similar run onto the apron after missing the board. He did not succeed in halting the flight either.
Why the clip went viral
It is the visual of it: a woman with a suitcase, both of them moving in on a jet as it pulls away. One post that has been shared far and wide puts it down as a dash at Sheremetyevo on 25 July where the pair tried to get the pilots to let them on.
The reaction has been mixed between those appalled by the audacity and those worried about the safety lapse. There is something that strikes a chord in the contrast between the desperation of the passengers and the unyielding nature of airside work.
What this means for travellers
It is a plain reminder that there are hard limits to a boarding cut-off and that certain areas are off-limits come what may. Staff and the transport police will not hesitate to step in, and the disruption can be felt in the rest of the operation.
For those in a hurry at the airport, the points are these:
– Once the gates are shut, the cut-off is final.
– The apron is not a place for passengers; it is unsafe and restricted.
– Fines and police action are the consequence of unauthorised entry.
– An aircraft in motion will not be boarded by latecomers.
As for the two at Sheremetyevo, the result was only to be expected. The system does not wait. When it comes to pushback, the airline and the airport are of one mind on the priority: to keep the schedule and ensure safety, not to oblige anyone arriving at the last minute.
