AviationNews – An Azerbaijan Airlines Airbus A320 carrying 155 passengers safely evacuated after it overran the runway during an emergency landing at Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg, Russia. The incident occurred early Monday morning after the crew reported a critical technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft, operating as flight J2-020 from St. Petersburg to Baku, Azerbaijan, detected a serious issue with its landing gear just after departing. The flight crew halted their climb and declared an emergency, making the decision to return to Pulkovo. Airport emergency services were placed on high alert for the plane’s arrival.
Before attempting the high-risk landing, the flight crew professionally managed the situation by circling over the city’s airspace for nearly three hours. This procedure was necessary to burn off excess fuel, a standard safety measure to reduce the aircraft’s weight and minimize fire risk upon landing. The crew also reportedly performed low passes over the airport to allow ground crews to visually inspect the landing gear.
“For the utmost flight safety, the captain…made the decision to return and land at Pulkovo Airport due to a technical issue related to the landing gear,” the airline said in an official statement. Azerbaijan Airlines also praised the crew’s actions and thanked passengers for their calm.
Russian transportation prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the incident to review compliance with flight safety regulations. The aircraft, which came to a stop on the grass just off the runway, will undergo a detailed technical inspection.
Despite the tense, hours-long ordeal, all 155 passengers were evacuated safely with no injuries reported. Azerbaijan Airlines dispatched a replacement aircraft to transport the stranded passengers to their destination in Baku later on Monday.
