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On August 12, 2025, Air Astana flight KC855, operated on an Airbus A321 aircraft, experienced a technical issue shortly after departure from Almaty to Astana, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency return and landing at Almaty Airport the same day.
The incident involved a technical malfunction, but specific details about the nature of the technical fault and control issues are limited in the available information. However, passengers reported that the descent was abrupt, like a roller coaster ride, and some felt air pockets during the descent.
Despite the unexpected situation, passengers went through the emergency landing without major incident. No reports indicate injuries or severe distress during or after the event. Videos and posts on social media confirm the flight was diverted back safely to the origin airport.
A Kazakh woman, traveling with a seven-month-old baby and her younger sister, expressed that she had never experienced something like this before. She noted that the situation had stabilized and the plane was returning to Almaty. The woman also expressed that she had never wanted to live so badly after experiencing the incident.
Children in the cabin were crying loudly, and panic started among passengers, with some writing farewell messages to their loved ones. However, the flight attendants remained professional and calmed everyone down during the emergency. They provided instructions on how to behave after landing and how to protect the baby's head.
In a bid to ensure passenger safety, the crew asked passengers to remove high-heeled shoes, jewelry, and loosen collars to prevent suffocation. The flight attendants were on their feet until the end of the incident, serving food to passengers to keep them calm.
The landing in Almaty was carried out in normal mode, and the press service of the airline reported that the flight returned to Almaty due to a technical issue. The flight lasted approximately 1 hour 18 minutes, returning to Almaty instead of continuing to Astana.
As of now, no official statements detailing the exact technical cause or subsequent airline response have been released. The flight crew and Air Astana are yet to provide further information regarding the incident.
In summary: - Flight KC855 departed Almaty for Astana on August 12, 2025. - A technical malfunction caused the aircraft to return and make an emergency landing at Almaty Airport. - Passenger experiences appear to have been calm, with no reports of injuries. - The flight duration was about 1 hour 18 minutes before returning to base.
