TYPHOON ON THE ISLAND - IS THIS A DAMNATION OF THE CHINESE EMPEROR?(DO NOT DISTURB ASHES OF ANCIENT WARRIORS.)

11 December 2002 - Gigantic terracotta warriors - notable statues of the ancient Chinese history now belonging to the Terracotta Warriors Museum - were flown by an Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft of Volga-Dnepr Airlines from Shanghai (China) to the Pacific island of Guam (USA).

The Chinese army of terracotta warriors is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. In 1974 Chinese farmers, who worked on a field near Lintong city, found by pure accident the stone-made soldiers, which were buried under ground for 2,000 years. Archaeologists, who arrived there, discovered that the life-size statues - infantrymen, archers, cavalry, arbalesters and others - were "guarding" the tomb of the Emperor Qin Shihuang. He died in 210 B.C. and was famous for his order to build the Great Chinese Wall. He was reputed as one of the world's most cruel rulers. After two years of digging archaeologists found about 8,000 statues. Each horseman or soldier had his own individual features and scientists presumed that these were portraits of real soldiers killed at the Emperor's burial site so their spirits could protect Qin Shihuang in the other world.

This exceptional airlift required Volga-Dnepr specialists to show great thoroughness and professionalism. The historic cargo was valued at $33 mln. Chinese warders were placed in protective boxes. 32 boxes amounting to the total of 8 tonnes were positioned in the cargo bay in the specifically defined order as was requested by the customer, in order to avoid any - even the slightest - damage to valuable exhibits. In-flight temperature in the cargo bay was constantly maintained at the necessary level (17-20 degrees Celsius).

After completion of unloading, when the ancient warriors "stood" on the land of Guam, the severe Typhoon Pongsona struck the island. According to scientists it became the strongest typhoon in recent years. All ports and the airport where Volga-Dnepr's IL-76 aircraft stood on ground at the time of the typhoon have been closed. During the disaster the airline's airplane has suffered damages, which are being investigated now. The flight and technical crew did not suffer any injuries.

"Despite difficult conditions, including those caused by natural disasters at various continents, where our crews work, our airline continues to perform extra difficult operations carrying out its mission - to build reliable air bridges for our partners worldwide," said Alexey Isaikin, the Chairman of Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

For the twelve years of the airline's existence Volga-Dnepr's aircraft have operated numerous flights transporting unique exhibits, which true value is hard to determine.