Gambell incident

On February 27, 1974, a Soviet Antonov An-24LR "Toros" (CCCP-47195) ice reconnaissance aircraft landed at Gambell Airport, Alaska.

[1] The plane, carrying three crew members and twelve scientists, was en route to Anadyr, USSR.

The aircraft was low on fuel, so the crew chose to divert to Gambell, United States, located 62 miles (100 km) southeast of Provideniya, USSR, across the Bering Sea.

The plane made a straight-in approach, and one of the engines quit shortly before landing due to fuel starvation.

Word quickly spread around the community that a Soviet plane had landed, and this prompted villagers to come out to the airfield.