Moscow, Russia: An Aeroflot passenger flight bound for Baku was forced to return shortly after takeoff from Sheremetyevo International Airport on March 22, 2026 following a bird strike, prompting a precautionary landing in Moscow.
The flight, SU1854, had departed as scheduled but discontinued its climb within minutes, turning back toward the airport in line with standard safety procedures.
Early reports from regional media suggested a possible engine malfunction or technical fault, creating initial uncertainty around the cause of the diversion.
However, subsequent clarification from the airline and supporting aviation incident data confirmed that the aircraft had encountered birds shortly after departure.
The crew, following established safety protocols for such events, elected to return to the departure airport for inspection despite no immediate indication of engine failure.
According to available flight data, the aircraft had climbed to a relatively low altitude before reversing course.
Bird strikes during this phase of flight are treated with heightened caution due to the potential risk of engine ingestion or hidden structural damage, even when systems appear to be functioning normally.
Aviation safety guidance requires crews to prioritize landing at the nearest suitable airport to allow for thorough technical checks.
The aircraft landed safely at Sheremetyevo with emergency services on standby as a precaution. The landing was reported to be uneventful, and the aircraft was able to taxi to the stand without assistance. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Following the incident, passengers were disembarked and provided assistance by the airline, with arrangements made for an alternative aircraft to continue the journey to Baku. Maintenance teams initiated detailed inspections to assess the extent of any damage resulting from the bird strike.
