Aeroflot Airbus makes emergency landing after distress signal
An Airbus from Aeroflot, en route from Kaliningrad to Moscow, encountered a dire situation, leading it to descend significantly and divert towards St. Petersburg. The cause of this development remains unclear.
2:38 PM EDT, April 16, 2024
The aircraft signaled a critical situation by transmitting code 7700, which was designated for emergencies and signaled a distress situation to all nearby air traffic control stations.
The distress signal was sent as the aircraft flew over the Estonian islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Shortly after issuing the alert, the aircraft drastically decreased altitude, fueling speculation that a cabin leak or decompression could have caused the incident.
According to Flightradar24, "The aircraft dropped to approximately 9,842 feet, suggesting a potential pressure issue. It's anticipated that the flight will be rerouted to St. Petersburg."
Ultimately, just after 11 a.m. ET, the pilot executed an emergency landing in St. Petersburg.
The service clarifies that code 7700 is used to signal emergencies, compelling the pilot to prioritize passenger safety above all regulations.
This emergency code also ensures that all nearby air traffic controls are alerted.
The challenges facing Russian aviation
Following sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, which included restrictions on the supply of spare parts and technical support, the reliability of Russian civil aircraft has deteriorated markedly. The absence of essential maintenance resources has adversely affected the fleet's operational condition, leading to a tripling in the incidence of technical failures and, consequently, impacting flight safety.
Over 180 flight malfunctions have been documented since the beginning of 2023, a substantial escalation from the 60 incidents reported in 2022.
Source: Flightradar24, WP News
