A replacement aircraft carrying 236 passengers took off from Sharm el-Sheikh for Yekaterinburg, as reported by RIA Novosti. The substitute plane was prepared to continue the journey after the earlier aircraft faced technical issues, and the crew coordinated with ground teams to ensure a smooth transition for the passengers on board.
The flight was scheduled to reach Koltsovo airport in Yekaterinburg at 18:20 Moscow time, according to official updates from the carrier and airport authorities. Passengers were briefed about the delay and the change in equipment, and standard safety checks were completed before final approach procedures.
The Airbus A321 service from Sharm el-Sheikh to Yekaterinburg, operated on Friday evening, January 3, was forced to perform an emergency landing at the departure airport after indications of an engine malfunction. The crew followed established emergency protocols, coordinating with air traffic control and the ground emergency response teams to secure the cabin and assist passengers as needed.
The aircraft that was originally scheduled for the route carried 236 passengers. There were no reported injuries among the travelers, and medical teams stood by as a precaution while passengers were disembarked and processed through standard post-landing procedures.
In a separate incident, another Ural Airlines plane encountered a disturbance onboard while flying from Moscow to Chita. A passenger behaved aggressively and attacked a flight attendant, prompting the crew to initiate security measures and request police assistance. Reports indicate that the individual had been restrained with specialized hand restraints prior to landing and was subsequently handed over to authorities for investigation. The airline stated that safety of crew and passengers remained the top priority throughout the incident, and ground security teams supported the rapid response upon arrival.
A different early departure from Sharm el-Sheikh to Yekaterinburg was detained due to threats reported aboard. Airports and airline security teams acted quickly to assess the risk, implement precautionary checks, and ensure that all passengers and crew remained secure during the unfolding events. In every case, authorities indicated that there were no serious injuries and that inspections and investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding each disruption.
Overall, these events underscore the importance of rigorous safety protocols, swift coordination among flight crews, ground services, and law enforcement, and the ongoing vigilance of international air travel networks to protect travelers on busy routes between the Middle East, Russia, and the broader region. No additional details were released regarding ongoing investigations, but the responses demonstrate a consistent adherence to aviation safety standards across the involved operators.