AviationNews – Russian federal authorities have launched mass safety inspections of 51 regional airlines following a sharp and concerning increase in aviation accidents and fatalities across the country. The move highlights a mounting safety crisis within Russia’s commercial air transport sector
The comprehensive audit, led by Rostransnadzor (Russia’s federal transportation watchdog), will run from December 2025 to December 2026 and target regional carriers identified as posing a significant risk. This action comes after commercial aviation accidents doubled from eight in 2023 to seventeen in 2024, with total fatalities soaring by 440% in the period from 2023 through the current year. The parties involved cite systemic violations of safety laws as the core problem.
The underlying technical issues are largely linked to the long-term impact of Western sanctions, which have blocked Russian airlines from receiving new aircraft, spare parts, and essential software updates from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Carriers have resorted to keeping their fleets airborne through ‘cannibalization’ (stripping parts from grounded planes) and using older, often Soviet-era aircraft, leading to widespread reports of technical malfunctions, inadequate maintenance, and rising operational risk.
An industry expert, speaking to local media, warned about the inevitable consequence of current practices: “Aircraft maintenance is difficult because parts are being smuggled in. We suspect this is neither completely reliable nor safe. Sooner or later, unless the situation changes, commercial flights will face a severe risk, similar to what was seen in other sanctioned nations.”
The large-scale safety audit is an urgent attempt by the government to stabilize public confidence and reverse the alarming safety trend. However, the future viability of the sector hinges on the ability of these airlines to secure legitimate maintenance and parts. Unless the systemic issues linked to sanctions are resolved, carriers will continue to struggle, placing sustained pressure on the entire Russian civil aviation infrastructure.
Facing a surge in fatal accidents, Russian authorities have initiated a mandatory, year-long audit of over 50 regional airlines. The investigation focuses on poor maintenance and operational violations, challenges that are significantly exacerbated by Western sanctions limiting access to spare parts. This critical inspection aims to address the deteriorating safety standards and stabilize Russia’s troubled aviation sector.