Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg, Russia, witnessed an emergency landing incident in the early hours of 20 October. An Airbus A320 passenger aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) made an emergency landing due to a technical malfunction in its landing gear. All 155 passengers were evacuated safely without injury.
In an official statement released by AZAL, it was noted that the captain of flight J2-020, operating the St. Petersburg–Baku route, decided to return “to ensure the highest level of flight safety.” The aircraft circled in Saint Petersburg airspace for about three hours to burn off excess fuel before landing safely at Pulkovo Airport.
Rescue Teams on Standby
At Pulkovo Airport, fire and rescue teams were placed on standby in accordance with aviation safety procedures in preparation for a possible emergency.
AZAL stated, “The crew carefully carried out all necessary steps in full compliance with safety protocols, including the fuel burn procedure prior to landing.”
The aircraft landed at 04:43 Baku time but slightly veered off the runway during landing. Passengers were evacuated within a short time, and no injuries were reported.
Azerbaijan Airlines shared a statement saying, “We thank our passengers for their calmness and understanding. We are also grateful to the Pulkovo Airport service teams for their professional coordination.”
Replacement Aircraft Dispatched
The airline announced that a replacement aircraft was sent later in the day to transport the passengers to Baku.
According to Flightradar24 data, the Airbus A320 circled between 3,000 and 5,000 feet for about three hours before the emergency landing.
Photos shared shortly after the incident showed emergency response teams actively working around the aircraft. Airport operations were temporarily halted but returned to normal in the morning hours.
