An Airbus A321 operated by Russia’s Ural Airlines has been forced to make an emergency landing when a bird strike saw birds sucked into both of the jet’s engines. According to the RIA state news agency, citing Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the emergency landing took place near Zhukovsky International Airport, south-east of Moscow, Thursday, August 15, after the plane, Flight U6178, had taken off from the capital city en route to Simferopol.
Ural Airlines’ general director, Sergei Skuratov confirmed that: “There was an emergency landing in Zhukovsky. Birds got into both engines. Engines turned off, the crew carried out the landing … one kilometer away from the runway,” according to TASS state news agency. There were no fatalities reported among the 234 passengers and crew on board, though up to 55 passengers, including 17 children, were given medical attention, TASS reported, citing a source in the regional Center for Disaster Medicine. Six have been hospitalized, it added.
Pilot Damir Yusupov, 41, and co-pilot Georgy Murzin, 23, were commended by Ural Airlines for their professionalism. “Precisely due to their professionalism, self-possession and coordinated actions (they) managed to land a plane without tragic consequences,” a Ural Airlines statement said.