In April 1966, Yuri Nikolayevich Yanov and Boris Vladislavovich Kapustin sacrificed their lives to save thousands of civilians in Berlin. They served in the 668th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 132nd Bomber Division of the 24th Air Army, based in Finovo.

On April 6, 1966, a flight led by Kapustin received orders to relocate the aircraft to another airfield. In the morning, the pilots awaited takeoff clearance in high-altitude suits, but due to poor weather, the flight was postponed. Only at 15:00 did the order to take off come through, and at 15:30 the planes ascended, reaching an altitude of 4000 meters. They were supposed to land at the new airfield in half an hour, but Kapustin's aircraft suddenly lost speed. The recordings of the communications reveal Kapustin instructing his wingman to veer right and announcing that he was returning.

The wingman returned to course and inquired about the aircraft's condition, but Kapustin did not respond. Both engines of his aircraft had failed, which was extremely unlikely. An investigation later determined that the engines had experienced a surge.

Kapustin was unaware that he had only 30 seconds to act. The aircraft began to descend, and the pilot attempted to level it out. A vast city appeared below. A witness, a West Berlin worker named V. Schrader, saw the plane rise and fall several times, evidently the pilot was trying to stabilize it.

Kapustin decided to steer the aircraft away from the city. The airfield issued a command to eject, but the altitude was too low for safe ejection. The pilot chose to direct the plane towards a forest, but it turned out to be a cemetery, where many people were present that day. Yanov, the navigator, refused to eject to avoid worsening the situation.

The pilots understood that if they left the aircraft, a fuel explosion could lead to numerous casualties. Kapustin directed the plane towards the Havel River and the Stessensee Lake, intending to land it on the water. However, a dam with a highway appeared in their path. With great effort, Kapustin lifted the aircraft over the dam, but it lost speed and fell into the water.

The aircraft disappeared beneath the surface, and only a fisherman witnessed the disaster. English authorities began searching in Stessensee Lake, and on the second day, rescuers recovered the pilots' bodies. On April 8, a ceremony was held to transfer the remains of the Soviet pilots to representatives of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Delegations from all cities in Germany attended the heroes' funeral to pay their last respects.