NewsAeroflot jet's emergency descend to St. Petersburg amid crisis

Aeroflot jet's emergency descend to St. Petersburg amid crisis

Russian plane failures becoming more frequent

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2:18 PM EDT, April 16, 2024

An Aeroflot Airbus en route from Kaliningrad to Moscow encountered a critical situation, prompting it to lower its altitude and head towards St. Petersburg significantly. The reason behind this incident remains unclear.

The aircraft signaled a critical situation by transmitting code 7700, a universal distress signal indicating an emergency. This event unfolded while the plane was flying over the Estonian islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, immediately after which it drastically dropped its flight altitude. Initial speculations suggest the plane might have experienced a cabin leak leading to decompression.

Flightradar24 reported, "The aircraft descended to an altitude of about 9,842 feet, suggesting a pressurization issue. It is likely the flight will be diverted to St. Petersburg." Eventually, the pilot safely executed an emergency landing in St. Petersburg after 3 PM.

Code 7700 is declared during emergencies, compelling the pilot to prioritize the safety of passengers above all regulatory demands. Additionally, this code alerts nearby air traffic controls to the unfolding situation.

The Problem with Russian Aviation

In the wake of sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, which included prohibitions on supplying spare parts and offering technical assistance, Russian civilian aircraft have increasingly experienced malfunctions. Deprived of essential components, keeping aircraft in prime operational condition has become daunting, leading to a surge in mechanical failures and, by extension, impacting flight safety. The incidents of malfunctions have tripled in frequency.

Since the onset of 2023, there have been over 180 recorded in-flight breakdowns, marking a significant escalation compared to the 60 incidents recorded in 2022.