A SCAT airline plane operating a flight from Moscow to Almaty made an emergency landing in Astana on 9 November. After landing, passengers complained about the lack of water, food and information about the airline's next steps.
PASSENGERS DESCRIBED A FOUR-HOUR WAIT
As reported by Ulysmedia.kz, one of the passengers described what happened on the social network Threads. According to her, after the emergency landing, people were not given the necessary information for around four hours.
"I understand this is an emergency situation, even though we all collectively shat bricks on the plane, but why the hell didn't you even offer the passengers water?" the woman wrote.
The passenger claims that people were left without water and food until they began to openly express their dissatisfaction. Other passengers also reported that airline representatives could not explain when catering would be arranged or whether the flight would continue.
SCAT EXPLAINED THE DELAY WITH WATER
SCAT representatives confirmed the emergency landing in comments under the passenger's post.
The airline explained the delay in providing water by the need to organise its delivery to the airport.
"To give water to all passengers, it first had to be organised and delivered to the airport. That is why it took time," SCAT said.
The company also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused.
THE REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING REMAINS UNKNOWN
SCAT did not specify the reasons why the plane changed course and landed in Astana.
The published material contains no information about the technical condition of the aircraft, the number of passengers or when the flight would continue.
PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS FROM SCAT PASSENGERS
In June 2026, a passenger on SCAT flight DV-733 Almaty — Astana complained about severe stuffiness in the aircraft cabin. By his estimation, the temperature exceeded 35°C.
After a request from FBRK, the airline SCAT acknowledged that an uncomfortable temperature regime may have been observed in one of the passenger cabin zones.
The carrier said the situation did not affect flight safety. After the aircraft arrived, specialists carried out an inspection and the necessary work. However, the company did not disclose the cause of the elevated temperature in the cabin.
Later, SCAT passengers reported a multi-hour delay to the Almaty — Astana flight. As journalist Mikhail Kozachkov wrote, the plane was due to depart at 10:40, but departure was postponed first to 13:40 and then to 16:40. Passengers arrived in the capital only after 18:00.
According to one of the passengers, despite the long wait, the airline did not provide people with hot meals. The reasons for the initial postponements of the flight and SCAT's official position were not specified in the publication.
