Part 3/10:
Despite legislation intended to mitigate bird-related incidents within a 15 km radius of airports, the illegal dumps remained a challenge, leading Shukovsky Airport to deploy various countermeasures, including propane cannons. Sadly, these tactics proved ineffective as the seagulls quickly adapted, desensitizing themselves to the noise that was meant to scare them away.
The Events Leading Up to the Flight
Early that fateful day in August 2019, Ural Airlines Flight 178 was preparing for departure. The flight crew consisted of a captain with over 4,200 flight hours and a first officer with just under 800 hours. The captain's psychological evaluations raised red flags, highlighting tendencies toward impulsivity and excitability.