Updated March 16, 2018 18:47:39

Photo: Authorities have recovered 172 gold bars from the runway. (YakutiaMedia)

The hatch of a cargo plane carrying precious metals has flown open upon take-off and at least three tonnes of gold has been scattered across a runway in eastern Siberia, according to Russian media.

Police sealed off the runway and an investigation was launched after the incident on Thursday (local time) at Yakutsk airport, according to the Tass news agency.

An An-12 plane operated by the airline Nimbus took off for Krasnoyarsk carrying 9.3 tons of gold and other precious metals, according to a statement from the state Investigative Committee quoted by Tass.

Damage to a door handle caused it to fly open and spill some of the metal.

Authorities recovered 172 gold bars weighing 3.4 tonnes, Tass quoted Interior Ministry officials as saying.

No-one was hurt in the incident.

Images circulating on social media showed gold bars scattered across a runway.

AP

Topics: offbeat, human-interest, gold, silver, air-transport, russian-federation

First posted March 16, 2018 17:13:35