With the autopilot active, Kudrinsky, against regulations, let the children sit at the controls.[8][11][12] First, Yana took the pilot's left front seat. Kudrinsky adjusted the autopilot heading to give her the impression that she was turning the plane, though she actually had no control of the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, Eldar occupied the pilot's seat.[8] Unlike his sister, Eldar applied enough force to the control column to contradict the autopilot for 30 seconds.