Technical glitch forces S7 Airlines aircraft back to Russia's Novosibirsk shortly after takeoff PHOTO

An S7 Airlines Boeing aircraft en route to Russia's Sochi is returning to its departure point in Novosibirsk due to a technical issue, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar.

The aircraft, which took off from Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo Airport at 11:35 a.m. local time, has reportedly completed five to six holding circles in the airspace near the town of Chulym in the Novosibirsk region. This manoeuvre is part of a standard fuel-burning procedure required before a safe return landing, TASS reports.

Tolmachevo Airport confirmed that the aircraft is returning for technical reasons. “The plane is currently burning fuel,” an airport representative told the media, adding that all further details should be obtained from the airline.

Meanwhile, previously imposed restrictions on incoming flights at Sochi Airport have now been lifted, according to official information.

The press service at Tolmachevo Airport later informed TASS that the S7 aircraft is expected to land back in Novosibirsk at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time.

By Tamilla Hasanova