Azul A320 from Natal declares emergency and makes return

An Azul Airlines flight operating from Natal to Belo Horizonte has declared an emergency enroute, and is currently making a return to Natal.

Azul flight AD4001, an Airbus A320 operating the regional scheduled service from Natal (NAT) to Belo Horizonte (CNF) declared a general emergency with squawk code 7700 whilst outbound.

Azul AD4001 Natal – Belo Horizonte

The flight has subsequently descended to 10,000 feet and is making a return to NAT at the reduced cruising altitude.

Descent and return NAT

Flight data shows the Azul flight was passing through FL360 (36,000 feet) before terminating the climb and executing a descent to 10,000 feet.

The flight subsequently declared an emergency with transponder code 7700 when established at the reduced altitude, before making good a return track for the departure airport NAT.

The aircraft operating today’s AD4001 service to Belo Horizonte (CNF) is an Airbus A320-251N registered PR-YYH; a 6-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras.

The flight had made an on-time departure out of NAT at 02:35 local time, before establishing on track normally for the southerly flight service, and climbing through FL360.

The aircraft terminated the climb and initiated a descent at approximately 06:00 UTC before squawking code 7700 at 06:06 UTC once established at 10,000 feet.

Update 06:48 UTC

Azul flight AD4001 now established on finals for its return to NAT.

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