On March 9, flight WZ-1068 from Kazan to Yekaterinburg had to be interrupted immediately after gaining altitude. The reason was a signal from the on-board computer about a problem with the landing gear on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft with tail number RA-89158. According to technical services, the Red Wings airliner took off on schedule at 08:00 local time. However, shortly after takeoff, the crew received a signal about an abnormal position of the landing gear struts. The commander of the aircraft decided to return to the departure airport, acting in accordance with flight safety instructions.
The airline explained that the on-board computer reported that the landing gear struts were extended, although they should have been retracted after takeoff. The pilots decided not to take risks and turned the plane back to Kazan. The landing took place in normal mode, without any emergencies.
Initially, sources in the emergency services reported a malfunction of the front landing gear strut. However, the official statement of the carrier focuses on the readings of the sensors, which could be false or indicate a general problem with the retraction system.
There were 85 people on board the Sukhoi Superjet 100. None of the passengers or crew members were injured. To deliver people to their destination, the airline allocated a reserve aircraft. The flight delay was several hours, which was necessary to prepare the replacement and board the passengers.