MOSCOW. April 28 (Interfax-AVN) - An Ilyushin Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force is preparing for an emergency landing at the Zhukovsky Airport outside Moscow, Ilyushin's press service reported.
"An Indian Air Force Il-38 is currently preparing for an emergency landing at Zhukovsky. All emergency and rescue services have been alerted, and preparations are being made," it said.
The plane is being piloted by experienced Ilyushin test pilots, the press service said.
"The management of Ilyushin is also at the scene," it said.
A source with air traffic control services told Interfax earlier that an Il-38 was burning excessive fuel and preparing to land with its landing gear up.
"The plane was on a planned flight following regular maintenance. There are seven people on board, including technicians and pilots. The captain reported that the landing gear unsafe light was on. The plane is emptying its fuel tanks," the source said.
Personnel at the Gromov Research Institute are ready to deal with the emergency landing, the source said.
"The fact that the gear unsafe light is on does not mean for certain that the gear really did not deploy. The plane is expected to fly above the runway so that specialists can determine visually whether the landing gear has deployed or not. In any case, the situation is not critical, and the ground is prepared to receive the plane," the source said.