A Hainan Airlines flight from Beijing to Manchester with more than 230 passengers on board made an unplanned landing in Russia on Saturday (August 15) due to a mechanical fault. The Airbus A330-300 landed safely at Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Siberia at 07:28 Beijing time, with no deaths or injuries reported.
Flight Diverted to Krasnoyarsk
Flight HU753 departed Beijing early on Saturday morning and was en route to Manchester Airport when the diversion was announced. According to a statement from Hainan Airlines, the aircraft was diverted due to a mechanical fault. The airline said it plans to replace the aircraft to operate the onward flight and will arrange passenger service support to ensure safe arrival at the destination.
Statements from Airline and Russian Authorities
The airline's statement read: “On 15 August 2026, our flight HU753 (Beijing–Manchester) diverted to Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Russia due to a mechanical fault. The flight landed safely at 07:28 Beijing time. The company plans to replace the aircraft to operate the onward flight. We will properly arrange passenger service support to ensure safe arrival at the destination. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers. Hainan Airlines always adheres to the principles of safety first and passengers first, providing safe, comfortable and efficient services.”
The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed the landing and stated: “No deaths or injuries were reported. The aircraft and ground infrastructure sustained no damage.” Neither the airline nor Russian authorities confirmed the nationalities of the passengers aboard flight HU753.
Context of UK-Russia Relations
The emergency landing comes amid strained relations between London and Moscow following the unlawful Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Foreign Office has advised Brits against all travel to Russia, citing security incidents, Russian air defence activity, lack of return flights, and limited ability for the UK Government to provide support. The warning also noted an increased risk of British nationals being detained in Russia and stated that the FCDO's ability to assist in such circumstances is extremely limited.
