Flights unsafe: Center for Countering Disinformation flags systemic Russian aviation problems
Illustrative photo: UTair flights have become dangerous due to an aging fleet and sanctions (wikipedia.org)
Incidents involving UTair and other airlines confirm a systemic crisis in Russian aviation. Aging fleets and a lack of spare parts are turning flights into a real threat to passengers’ lives, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation.
UTair is one of Russia’s largest airlines, operating international passenger and charter flights.
Recent incidents involving its aircraft confirm a deep crisis in Russian civil aviation, caused by aging fleets, a shortage of spare parts, and the inability to perform proper maintenance due to sanctions.
"The number of technical incidents in Russian aviation is rising sharply, turning flights into a potential threat to passengers’ lives," emphasizes the Center for Countering Disinformation (TsPD).
For example, on December 16, a Boeing 777 flying from Moscow to Cuba experienced an engine fire during takeoff, with over 450 people on board. A similar incident occurred in early December with another Boeing 777 en route to Thailand.
These cases have become regular, indicating a systemic problem across the industry.
"The industry has entered a phase of chronic fleet wear that can no longer be concealed with phrases like 'technical malfunctions,'" the TsPD notes.
Passenger air travel in Russia is now genuinely dangerous. This is a direct consequence of sanctions and the Kremlin’s deliberate choice to continue the war instead of prioritizing citizens’ safety.
Today, a passenger Boeing 767-224 operating the Dubai–Moscow flight issued a distress signal immediately after takeoff. According to Flightradar, Utair flight UT716 departed the UAE and circled over the Persian Gulf near Dubai.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that in 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing after control problems. There were 67 people on board, 38 of whom died.
Investigations showed that the aircraft had been hit by Russian air defense, which, according to Putin, were attempting to shoot down Ukrainian drones near Grozny. At the time, Russian authorities initially remained silent and did not apologize to Azerbaijan for the incident.
