Aeroflot A321 Kaliningrad-Moscow Declares Emergency

An Aeroflot scheduled service operating between Kaliningrad and Moscow declared an emergency whilst en route on 16 April 2024.

Aeroflot flight SU1003, an Airbus A321 bound for Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), declare the emergency with transponder code 7700.

Aeroflot SU1003 Kaliningrad-Moscow

The aircraft squawked the emergency transponder code from the cruise as it passed to the North of the Estonian island of Hiiuma.

The nature of the issue prompting the emergency declaration has not been reported. It is noted that the flight continued to the destination at the reduced altitude of 11,000 feet.

Flight data for the service shows that flight SU1003 made a departure from Kaliningrad international Airport (KGD) at 1255 local time on 16 April.

Emergency Declaration Enroute

Aircraft set because normally and climbed to FL350 (35,000 feet) for the service to Moscow. At 1131 UTC abeam Hiiuma, the flight commenced a descent from cruising altitude and squawked transponder code 7700.

The flight crew then descended the aircraft to FL110 (11,000 feet) and continued the flight to the destination at the reduced altitude.

Airbus A321-200 RA-73709

The aircraft conducting the SU1003 rotation to Moscow was an Airbus A321-200, registered RA-73709. This is an eight year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Aeroflot Russian Airlines.

The aircraft has been in service with the airline since September 2016.

Aeroflot Russian Airlines, simply known as Aeroflot, is Russia’s largest airline and its national carrier. Founded in 1923, it is one of the oldest airlines in the world.

Sheremetyevo International Airport serves as a major hub for Aeroflot, the airline headquartered in Moscow.

Here are some key facts about Aeroflot:

• It has a market share of approximately 37.8% in Russia
• Carried 40.7 million passengers in 2022, including its subsidiaries
• Operates a fleet of approximately 178 airplanes, including Airbus and Boeing models
• Aeroflot also owns Rossiya Airlines and Pobeda, a low-cost carrier
• Aeroflot is a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, although its membership is currently suspended

Aeroflot has been in the news recently due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. International sanctions have made it difficult for Aeroflot to maintain its fleet of Western-made aircraft.

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