On October 15, 1970 a passenger plane AH-24 took off from Batumi airport to Sukhumi at 13:35 (local time). There were 46 passengers, including 4-year old child on board. After 7-8 minutes there was no contact with the crew. At 18:00 the aircraft changed its course, flew over Batumi airport and start for Turkey.
The aircraft crossed the border and disappeared in the clouds…The aircraft flew from the Soviet Union without any pre-course which was an unprecedented incident.
Next day, on October 16, 1970 mayor Archaia, head of the Investigation Department of Security of Adjara Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic announced that the hijackers took the aircraft which landed in Trabzon airport, Turkey.
It was officially announced that the hijackers wounded two crewmembers (the real number was three) and killed N. Kurchenko, conductor of the aircraft.
Two of the hijackers voluntarily surrendered to Turkey, gave their rifles and asked for the shelter.
On October 18, security services of Adjara ASSR and Georgia SSR knew the identities of those ones who committed an unheard crime in the Soviet Union.
Pranas Stasyo Brazinskasi (the same Korevio, surname of his first wife) was born in 1924 in the village of Beijon, Trakaya Region, Lithuania. He got incomplete education and was judged twice. For a while he lived in Uzbekistan. He had three children from the first marriage. His youngest son –15-year old Algirdas Prano Brazinskasi took part in the crime.
His relatives said that Pranasi didn’t like the Soviet Union and dreamt of living in a capitalist society. In his opinion, the place, where he lived well, would be his homeland.
Pranas and Algirdas Brazinskasi, Lithuanians by nationality, arrived in Sukhumi by aircraft which they had hijacked. On their way to Batumi they studied the crewmembers of the aircraft and established all the facts they needed for committing the crime.
The hijackers bought the tickets to Sukhumi in Batumi. Their “B” and “C” seats were in the first raw.
A few minutes after the aircraft had taken off Algirdas Brazinskasi called the conductor – Nadejda Kurchenko. Pranas ordered her to give the envelope to the crewmembers. There was a list of their demands in the envelope.
N. Kurchenko rushed in the cabin, gave the envelope to her chief and screamed the following: “Бандиты – нападение!” A shot was heard and N. Kurchenko fell dead.
G. Chakhrakia – pilot of the aircraft started to perform some maneuvers. He wanted the hijackers to lose their balance. The shooting took place. V. Fadeevi, one of the crewmembers, was wounded and lost the consciousness.
The passengers were in panic. They began to scream and cry…
Algirdas Brazinski shot twice to intimidate the passengers and gain control over them.
The situation was out of control. The hijackers were able to fulfill their plan. The aircraft landed in Trabzon airport.
Turkish law officers arrested the hijackers, while they gave first aid to the wounded and frightened persons. The passengers were put up in the hotels and next day they were sent to Batumi.
The criminal case was arisen in Batumi. The Soviet authorities appealed to Turkey’s authority to transfer the hijackers. Soviet Foreign Ministry sent a note to Turkey which stressed the importance of Brazinski’s transfer for their mutual relations.
Turkey turned down the suggestion and didn’t allow the soviet law officials to question Brazinskasi. On October 29, 1970, at the beginning of 1971, in 1973 and on July 5, 1974 the Soviet authorities without result tried to transfer Brazinskasi.
According to the resolution passed by a Court of Appeal, the crime was of criminal case. For this reason, at the beginning of 1971 the case was submitted from Trabzon to Ankara. In May of 1974 father and his son were pardoned and discharged from prison under police control.
On September 12, 1974 the aforementioned hijackers were taken before the Soviet court, the head of which was I. Sumbatashvili.
Prana Stasio Brazinskasi was sentenced to death.
Algirda Prano Brazinskasi was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Neither father nor son attended the trial.
Over thirty years have passed since that time. The case of the hijackers who severely left their land was not accessible. Later, the crewmembers, who managed to land the aircraft at Turkey airport and save the passengers, were awarded.
Toma Chagelishvili 