An airBaltic Boeing 737-300, registration YL-BBJ performing flight BT-495 from Riga (Latvia) to Rijeka (Croatia), was enroute at FL360 about 150nm southwest of Riga when the crew decided to return to Riga due to a smell of ammonia on board.

The aircraft landed safely back in Riga about 50 minutes after departure. A number of crew reported ill, a number of passengers vomitted and showed eye irritations, the injured were treated by paramedics.

A replacement Airbus A220 registration YL-AAL reached Rijeka with a delay of 3 hours.