http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-30208605

"...Passengers due to take a flight in Siberia had to get out and push the aircraft after its brake pads froze solid, it's reported.

The plane was trying to take off from the Russian town of Igarka, but was unable to move after the temperature fell to -52C, the RIA Novosti news agency reports. Passengers on board the flight, many of them shift workers, apparently offered to lend a hand, fearing that otherwise their journey home would be delayed, The Siberian Times reports. The Katekavia airline flight later took off and landed safely in the city of Krasnoyarsk. "According to the initial account, the air temperature dropped to -52C, and the braking system in the plane's landing gear froze in the parking position," Oxana Gorbunova, a senior aide at the Western Siberia state transport prosecutor's office, tells RIA Novosti. "The pushback tractor was unable to budge the aircraft onto the taxiway, and the passengers decided to help give it a push, which is not permitted, as this can damage the aircraft skin." Prosecutors are now checking whether the airport, the airline, the crew or the passengers broke any air safety laws."

Used to have to do that with my 53 Victoria. But gawrsh, I don't remember ever being able to push start an airplane. Hand prop, yeah, but push start?

Cary

Ha ha ha! Passengers required to bring crampons! Each boarding pass has wing assignment (right or left).

I had this same thing happen to me on a late night Delta (Saab 340) flight out of MSP.

The captain made an announcement apologizing that there would be no coffee available on the flight for a while as the ground crew dumped several pots of the hot liquid on each main gear brake as the tug pushed the plane back from the gate. Once the plane started to move, the crew started those big GE turboprops and we never stopped…

Most of the pax were grumpy; I though it was hilarious.