“I Didn’t Feel Any Pain at First”: Man Run Over by Airplane Speaks Out for the First Time

“I Didn’t Feel Any Pain at First”: Man Run Over by Airplane Speaks Out for the First Time

An airport technician who had his leg amputated after being struck by a 77-ton plane has publicly shared his experience for the first time. Rail Khasanov, a 22-year-old Ural Airlines employee, was preparing the aircraft for takeoff at Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg, Russia, when the pilot unexpectedly began taxiing, crushing his legs.

Surveillance footage captured the moment Mr. Khasanov collapsed on the runway as the plane slowly approached him. Despite his attempts to escape, the aircraft stopped with him trapped underneath.

In recounting the incident, which took place in May, Rail stated he “felt his bones burst” as the Airbus A320 rolled over him. “I remember it clearly,” he said. “A huge wheel rolled over my leg and stopped. Initially, I thought it was a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I didn’t feel any pain at first because of the shock, but then I felt my bones shatter.”

Khasanov remained trapped under the plane for seven minutes before being transported to the hospital. “I was fully aware while lying there, and I managed to text my mother, ‘Mum, I was hit by a plane,’” he recalled. “Then I started to feel drowsy. I was extremely thirsty due to blood loss. In the ambulance, I managed to explain what happened before I lost consciousness.”

After being placed in an induced coma, Khasanov woke up five days later to find that his leg had been amputated at the hip. “When I regained consciousness, I looked around and realized I was in intensive care with my mother by my side. I felt no panic. Even while under the plane, I knew my leg had no chance. But I was alive and able to talk.”

Investigators deemed the aircraft commander responsible for Khasanov’s injuries and ordered him to pay approximately £16,000 in compensation. Reflecting on this outcome, Khasanov said, “What else could I do? He has a family, children, a mortgage, and debts. Who would benefit from punishing him? It would ruin their lives.”