A regional transport branch of the Russian Investigative Committee has launched criminal proceedings against a female passenger who took control over an An-24 aircraft without necessary qualifications or authorization during its scheduled flight in Russia’s Yakutia Region in Siberia, the agency said via its website.

"A criminal case was opened against a 33-year-old woman, who did not have access to the plane’s controls or authorization to conduct passenger flights, for taking control over the An-24 aircraft operated by the Iraero airline," the statement reads.

The investigation suggests that on August 31, 2019, one of the crewmembers let a woman into the cockpit without clearance or authorization and let her take control of the aircraft. It is worth noting that passengers were aboard the plane at that very moment.