A Russian-operated Boeing 757-200 aircraft performed an emergency landing at Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport in China’s Gansu province on Friday afternoon, following the activation of an international distress signal during its flight through Chinese airspace.
The Azur Air flight ZF2998, traveling from Phuket International Airport in Thailand to Barnaul, Russia, declared an emergency situation while over Chinese territory. The crew transmitted transponder code 7700, the universal aviation distress signal, indicating an onboard emergency requiring priority handling.
Flight tracking systems captured the aircraft’s precautionary maneuvers as it circled near Lanzhou while executing fuel jettison procedures to reduce landing weight and minimize potential fire risk. The aircraft touched down safely at 4:51 PM local time without incident.
Airport authorities confirmed that all 239 passengers and 7 crew members aboard the aircraft emerged unharmed from the emergency operation. The airport maintained normal takeoff and landing operations throughout the incident, demonstrating effective emergency response coordination.
Chinese aviation officials are now coordinating subsequent arrangements for passengers and crew while investigating the circumstances that necessitated the emergency landing. The successful handling of the incident highlights international aviation cooperation protocols and China’s emergency response capabilities for foreign aircraft in distress.