Air Astana A321neo makes emergency landing following engine failure

Image: Aktobe Airport

On May 8, while operating a flight from Astana to Frankfurt, an Air Astana Airbus A321neo LR reported a failure in one of its engines. The crew elected to make an unscheduled landing at a diversion airfield in Aktobe, northern Kazakhstan.

Following touchdown, the aircraft (registration EI-KGJ) taxied to the apron under its own power. None of the 93 passengers on board — including four children and one infant — nor the nine crew members were injured. Passengers flew to Frankfurt on a backup aircraft later that same day.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that the aviation incident was caused by a technical malfunction of the aircraft’s power plant. As of May 11, the Airbus A321 remained on the ground at Aktobe airport.

The aircraft, EI-KGJ, is equipped with PW1100G engines, consistent with the rest of the Airbus A320neo family in Air Astana’s fleet. Currently, the airline and its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, operate a combined fleet of 42 next-generation aircraft of this type.

During an earnings call in early May, Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel described the situation with the PW1100G engines as “frustrating,” noting that it creates constraints on the group’s capacity and shrinks growth opportunities. However, the group’s latest report indicates that only two unscheduled engine removals due to design defects were recorded in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 22 cases throughout the entirety of 2025.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Air Astana remains uncertain about U.S. flight launch.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Air Astana reports improvement in PW1100G issues.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Air Astana increases transit traffic by 65%, but sees 3% dip in total passengers.