A UTAir Boeing 737-500, registration VP-BYL performing flight UT-528 from Tyumen to Saint Petersburg (Russia), was climbing out of Tyumen but stopped the climb at FL260. About 5 minutes later the aircraft began to climb about 150 feet above FL260 prompting the crew to return to Tyumen. The aircraft burned off fuel and landed safely in Tyumen about 50 minutes after the decision to return. It was an autopilot malfunction.
The aircraft remained on the ground for about 8 hours, then departed for the rotation UT-9745/UT-9746 to Baku (Azerbaijan Asia Airports) and back.
Rosaviatsia reported the autopilot malfunctioned prompting the return to the departure aerodrome.
