AZAL Plane Skids Off Runway at Pulkovo Airport

An "Azerbaijan Airlines" aircraft skidded off the runway after an emergency landing at Pulkovo Airport. St. Petersburg airport officials told "Interfax" that there were no casualties.

"The plane skidded off the runway. There are no casualties," the agency's source said.

"The crew did not request an evacuation using emergency slides. The situation on board is calm," the "Interfax" source added. The AZAL aircraft, operating Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-020 from St. Petersburg to Baku, decided to return and land at Pulkovo Airport due to a technical issue with the landing gear, the airline later announced.

"During landing, the aircraft slightly went beyond the runway. All 155 passengers were promptly evacuated; there are no casualties. Another aircraft from the airline has already been sent to transport the passengers from St. Petersburg to Baku," the airline's statement said.