Boeing 737-800 Makes Emergency Landing in Russia, Engine Trouble Possible

SAINT PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - A Boeing 737-800 aircraft made an emergency landing in the northwest of Russia, in the city of Syktyvkar on Friday. The regional transport office of the Russian Investigative Committee is looking into the incident, which may have involved engine failure, a representative of the committee told Sputnik.

"It [the emergency landing in Syktyvkar] did happen. A preliminary investigation is ongoing. The preliminary version is that engine failure was the reason," the representative said.

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The aircraft, which was travelling from the town of Mirny located in the east of Russia to Moscow, is in Syktyvkar airport, and passengers are safe and unharmed, the official said.

This comes after Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft model, a newer series than the 737-800s, has been under fire over the crash in Ethiopia on Sunday, which prompted many countries around the world, including the US, China, the EU and Russia, to either close their airspace for the aircraft model or suspend Boeing 737 Max flights. All 157 people from over 30 countries who were on board were killed.

The recent crash was the second deadly incident involving the aircraft in less than five months.

In late October 2018, another Boeing 737 MAX 8, operated by Indonesia's Lion Air, plunged into the Java Sea following take-off; 189 people died as a result. According to the preliminary investigation, the plane's sensors were showing incorrect speed and altitude readings.