Flights at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended after an Azerbaijan Airlines Airbus A320 skidded off the runway during an emergency landing due to a landing gear malfunction, officials said early Monday.
The aircraft, bound for Baku, returned to the airport shortly after takeoff and “slightly veered beyond the runway limits,” the airline said on social media.
All 155 passengers were promptly evacuated without injury, the carrier added.
Pulkovo Airport, one of Russia's busiest, briefly suspended flights due to the incident, but then resumed operations on Monday morning.
Transportation prosecutors opened an inquiry into the incident, saying they would review compliance with flight safety regulations and passengers’ rights.
The agency shared photographs of the aircraft in a grassy field with its side doors open and emergency responders at the scene.
Azerbaijan Airlines said a replacement aircraft was dispatched from Baku and passengers reached their destination later Monday morning.
Aviation safety has been in the spotlight in recent years with intense competition between the French company Airbus and its U.S. competitor Boeing.
The Airbus A320 recently became the best-selling commercial aircraft worldwide, according to figures released last week.
Russia has taken steps to switch from Soviet aircraft to modern jets such as the A320 and Boeing 737 in recent years due to accidents involving aging planes.
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
