An Azerbaijan Airlines Airbus aircraft overran Runway 28R at St. Petersburg’s Airport during an emergency landing, coming to a stop on the grass beyond the runway.
The aircraft, operating as flight J220 (AHY020) from St. Petersburg to Baku, encountered a landing gear malfunction shortly after takeoff early Monday morning. The crew halted the climb at FL60 (6,000 feet) and reported the issue to air traffic control.
After conducting two low passes over the airport to allow ground crews to visually inspect the landing gear, the flight entered a holding pattern for approximately one hour, then attempted several approaches before ultimately declaring an emergency (squawk 7700). The aircraft landed at around 00:40 UTC, but was unable to stop on the runway and came to rest off the paved surface.
Official Statement from the Airline
In a statement, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) confirmed the aircraft had safely returned to Pulkovo Airport after spending nearly three hours in the air to burn excess fuel.
“To ensure maximum flight safety, the captain of the Airbus A320 operating Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-020 on the St. Petersburg–Baku route decided to return and land at Pulkovo Airport due to a technical issue related to the landing gear,” the airline said.
Emergency Response
Emergency crews responded immediately to the incident. All passengers were quickly evacuated using emergency procedures, and no injuries or medical emergencies were reported.
An investigation into the landing gear issue and the runway overrun is expected to be conducted by Russian aviation authorities in coordination with Azerbaijan Airlines and Airbus technical teams.
The A320 (registration 4K-AZ84) involved in the incident will remain grounded pending inspection and maintenance.
