1950day.year
In the Sverdlovsk air disaster, all 19 of those on board are killed, including almost the entire national ice hockey team (VVS Moscow) of the Soviet Air Force – 11 players, as well as a team doctor and a masseur.
A Soviet Air Force plane crashes near Sverdlovsk, killing 19, including nearly the entire VVS Moscow hockey team.
On January 7, 1950, a Lisunov Li-2 charter plane carrying the VVS Moscow ice hockey team crashed near Sverdlovsk.
All 19 people aboard, including 11 players, a coach, a doctor, and a masseur, perished in the frozen wilderness.
The VVS Moscow team was part of the Soviet Air Force's efforts to promote athletic excellence.
Their sudden loss devastated Soviet sports and led to national mourning across hockey communities.
Investigations cited severe weather, navigational errors, and possible ice buildup as contributing factors.
The disaster prompted improvements in flight safety protocols and emergency response strategies.
1950
Sverdlovsk air disaster
VVS Moscow
Soviet Air Force