Make it rain: Gold bars worth millions fall from plane over Russia

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Russian plane spills tons of gold onto runway The hatch of a cargo plane carrying precious metals accidentally flew open upon take off from a Russian airport - scattering at least three tons of gold on the runway, according to Russian news reports. (March 16)

Gold and other precious metals rained down on an airline runway Thursday after a plane's hatch opened as it took off in Russia, according to local outlets.

The hatch of a Nimbus Airlines AN-12 cargo plane opened after experiencing issues during takeoff in Yakutsk in eastern Siberia, the Siberian Times reported. The plane was carrying about nine tons of gold and other precious metals, the Interior Ministry told Russia's Tass news agency.

Tass new agency reported that 172 gold bars, which is about 3.4 tons of gold, were found littered across the runway.

It's -21C in Yakutia, sunny, we expect showers of diamond, platinum and gold... Plane loses its $368 million cargo; gems and precious metals rain over Russia’s coldest region as police and secret services stage emergency search https://t.co/NsUeOWxZf5 pic.twitter.com/8OXd6Al9is — The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) March 15, 2018

The plane landed 26 km, or 16 miles, from where it took off, Siberian Times reported.

An investigation into the incident is underway.