A Russian flight from Beijing to Moscow took a wrong turn and strayed over residential areas in downtown Beijing early Thursday morning.

The Beijing Youth Daily has quoted relevant staff saying the accident may have been caused by the misoperation of the captain.

Flight UN8888 with Russian Transaero Airlines, took off at the Beijing International Airport early Thursday morning for Moscow. The flight was scheduled to first fly south after taking off, then turn east before heading north. However, the flight took a wrong turn west after flying a short distance south, and then flew directly over downtown Beijing.

Ground control spotted the flight was heading in the wrong direction just in time and immediately informed the captain. Later, the flight, which was heading west, turned around and flew back to its scheduled route north.

Some local residents within the third ring road in Beijing said they heard a loud noise when the plane flew over just a few feet above, and some said they were frightened when they saw it.

The flight later flew back to Moscow and landed at the Moscow Vnukovo Airport on schedule.

Public speculation has centered on the causes of the incident, with some suggesting it may have been caused by the misoperation of the flight crew or the captain, but specific causes are still under investigation.

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