Russia’s Ural Airlines Plane Diverts to Astrakhan Due to Warning Signal

Russia’s Ural Airlines Airbus A321 flying from Moscow to Sochi made an unscheduled landing in Astrakhan after a warning signal was triggered mid-flight.

The aircraft, which was flying at a cruising altitude of 10,000 meters, reportedly dropped to a significantly reduced speed of 280 kilometers per hour - far below the normal cruising speed expected at that altitude, The Caspian Post reports per Russian media.

The sharp decrease in speed raised immediate concerns, prompting the flight crew to signal an emergency.

In response to media interest regarding flight U6-221, which activated transponder code 7700, the airline reports the following: a warning signal was triggered onboard the Airbus A321, making it unsafe to continue the flight. The crew made the decision to divert to an alternate airport and safely landed in Astrakhan.