Feb. 26 (UPI) — A Russian Boeing 777 made an emergency landing in Moscow Friday after pilots saw an instrument warning light linked to possible engine failure, officials said.
The Rossiya Airlines flight was traveling from Hong Kong to Spain when the light came on and the pilots diverted to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
Officials said the warning light was associated with “failure of the control channel for the left engine.” The plane, which carried 25 people and 36 tons of cargo, landed safely.
It wasn’t immediately known if the light was functioning properly.
Rossiya Airlines is part of Aeroflot, Russia’s national carrier, and flies several 777 airliners, according to the company’s website.
Friday’s landing was another emergency incident involving a 777 airliner. Boeing grounded some 777s with Pratt & Whitney engines after a United Airlines flight last weekend was forced down after an engine failed and scattered debris over Denver.
The Russian plane, a 777-300ER, has engines manufactured by General Electric — meaning they do not fall under the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration‘s order Tuesday for mandatory inspections of fan blades in the Pratt & Whitney engines, which were found to have signs of metal fatigue on the United flight.
The Rossiya plane also didn’t fall under Boeing’s recommendation to suspend service of 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines.
