TALLINN — A transportation aircraft heading from Helsinki to Tallinn made an emergency landing onto the frozen surface of Lake Ülemiste, the primary source of Tallinn’s drinking water.

The cargo carrier AN26, belonging to the Polish EXIN company landed in the lake, located directly east of Tallinn Airport Thursday morning at 10:18 am. The aircraft carried DHL shipments. The aircraft had six crew members on board, one of whom has been hospitalized with light injuries.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the aircraft was not able to land at the airport as one landing gear did not open. On the second round engine problems occurred, and then it headed towards the lake to land on the ice covering the lake.

The fuel was pumped out of the aircraft to prevent environmental pollution. Authorities say the lake’s water was not contaminated by the landing.

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