A Belavia Embraer ERJ-195 operating a scheduled service from Minsk, Belarus to Kutaisi, Georgia diverted to Astrakhan in Russia after an engine failure in flight on 29 July 2024.
Belavia flight B2729, an Embraer ERJ-195 bound for Kutaisi International Airport (KUT), experienced problems with its right-hand engine during the cruise.
Belavia B2729 Minsk-Kutaisi
According to the Aviation Herald, flight crew shut down the right-hand engine and initiated a drift down procedure to a lower altitude.
The decision was then made to divert to nearby Astrakhan International Airport (ASF) in Russia. The aircraft then landed without further incident at the diversion airport just under one hour after the diversion was made.
The airline mustered a replacement aircraft to complete the scheduled flight rotation to Kutaisi International Airport.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that Belavia flight B2729 made an on-time departure out of Minsk National Airport (MSQ) at 2321 local time.
The flight then set course normally, climbing to flight level FL340 (34,000 feet) for the south-westerly route to Georgia.
The aircraft was on course to the north-west of Astrakhan when the drift down procedure and diversion was initiated.
The aircraft conducting the B2729 service from Minsk was an Embraer ERJ-195, registered EW-514PO. This is a 6.1-year-old regional jet belonging to the carrier Belavia. It has been in operational service with the airline since its delivery from the factory in June 2018.
Belavia, formally known as Belavia Belarusian Airlines, is the national airline of Belarus
with its headquarters in Minsk. It operates as the country’s flag carrier.
A Brief Overview:
- Founded: 5 March 1996
- Headquarters: Minsk, Belarus
- Fleet: Primarily consists of Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer aircraft.
- Destinations: Offers flights to over 50 destinations across Europe and Asia, with a focus on Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries.
- Challenges: The airline has faced significant challenges due to the political situation in Belarus. It was banned from European Union and Ukrainian airspace following the Ryanair Flight 4978 incident in 2021.
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