An elderly passenger mistook the luggage belt at an airport check-in desk for an escalator - walking onto it before disappearing into the baggage area.

Astonishing CCTV footage captured the incident at a state-owned airport in Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, on January 5.

The airline desk staff were distracted by another passenger and failed to notice the woman approaching the weighing area and clambering onto the conveyor belt.

The pensioner, 74, apparently mistook the luggage conveyor belt at the busy airport for an escalator and was carried into the baggage sorting area.

As she approaches the thick rubber curtain separating the check-in area from the luggage area, she topples over onto her back and goes through on the conveyor belt, disappearing from view.

Another passenger can be seen apparently telling the check-in staff what has just happened as the footage ends.

Local media reported d that the woman, who has not been named, was rescued uninjured and was escorted to the boarding waiting area.