A November flight in Russia left passengers in shock when part of an engine cowling tore off a Sukhoi Superjet mid-air, forcing an emergency landing, and the incident is part of a much larger pattern. Russian airlines recorded more than 800 equipment malfunctions that led to flight cancellations or emergency landings between January and late November 2025, which is about four times the number seen in the same period of 2024, according to an analysis of Aviaincident monitoring data.

TL;DR

  • Russia logged 800+ aircraft malfunctions in 2025—four times more than the same period in 2024.
  • Sanctions have choked access to Boeing/Airbus parts, forcing airlines to cannibalize grounded jets and extend the life of aging Soviet-era planes.
  • Newer models like the A320neo fleet are half-grounded, while older turboprops remain in service on remote routes.
  • Despite rising technical issues, major crashes haven’t spiked—but safety margins are shrinking and emergency landings are becoming more common.
  • Russian regulators warn some regional airlines now pose a “real threat to human life” due to maintenance and training gaps.
  • Travelers flying within Russia or on Russian airlines should expect higher disruption risks, older aircraft, and potential reliability issues.

The surge in incidents is widely attributed to maintenance challenges created by Western sanctions that have limited access to new aircraft and spare parts, especially for Boeing and Airbus models. Since 2022, engineers have been forced to keep aging fleets in the air by cannibalizing grounded jets for components or relying on uncertified parts, and this patchwork approach appears to be putting significant strain on safety margins.

Aviation experts warn that these mounting technical issues reflect a system under pressure and raise serious questions for travelers about the reliability of Russian airline operations in 2025.

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Russian Air Incidents Surge in 2025

The data behind the headlines is alarming. More than 800 in-flight or pre-flight malfunctions were logged on Russian commercial flights in 2025 (up to late November), quadruple the roughly 200 incidents recorded in the same period in 2024.

These incidents include everything from engine failures and hydraulic problems to malfunctioning landing gear and sudden loss of cabin pressure, often resulting in aborted takeoffs, emergency landings, or canceled flights. In the Superjet incident above, debris from the engine cover was later found on runways at both the departure and arrival airports.

While many of the malfunctions were relatively routine – for instance, engines failing to start or doors not sealing properly – each case was serious enough to disrupt the flight. The Moscow Times notes that most of these events were “routine breakdowns” but still caused flights to be interrupted or delayed for safety reasons.

Importantly, this spike in technical problems has not (yet) led to a commensurate jump in major crashes, but it does erode the safety buffer. Russian officials report that there have been 2 major accidents and 2 fatal crashes so far in 2025, with 53 people killed, a higher death toll than 2023 and 2024 combined. Aviation analysts point out that hull losses (total aircraft write-offs) and fatal crash rates in Russia have remained relatively steady over the past few years.

However, “lesser” safety violations and technical mishaps are clearly on the rise. “We do see a rise in technical incidents… that could be attributed to a lack of supply chain and certified spare parts… that affect the reliability of schedules,” says Jan-Arwed Richter, CEO of German safety firm JACDEC, “but not to an extent where aircraft actually crash.” In other words, Russian planes are making it to their destinations, but with far more close calls and unscheduled landings along the way.

Sanctions, Aging Jets, and Maintenance Woes

Passenger planes at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport. Western sanctions have had a cascading effect on Russia’s civil aviation. After 2022, Russian airlines were banned from EU and U.S. airspace and cut off from purchasing genuine spare parts or new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.

This has forced carriers to rely on aging jets, including older Soviet-era models, and to perform maintenance with dwindling resources. Russia’s federal transport regulator has warned of “systemic violations of aviation safety laws,” citing poor aircraft maintenance, inadequate pilot training, and failures to follow technical regulations as factors behind the uptick in accidents.

Crucially, the regulator linked these safety issues to the sanction regime, which has “forced companies to rely on aging Soviet-era planes that lack newly manufactured parts” and to scavenge spares from storage or decommissioned aircraft. In short, airlines are keeping planes flying by any means possible, even as manufacturer-approved support has dried up.

One stark example of the sanctions’ impact is the plight of Russia’s newest aircraft. Nearly half of all Airbus A320neo-family jets in Russia (34 out of 66) are currently grounded due to unresolved engine problems exacerbated by the inability to import parts.

These state-of-the-art airliners were supposed to be the future of Russian fleets; instead, without proper maintenance support, many may be cannibalized for parts or retired early.

Kommersant business daily reports that starting in 2026, some A320neo/A321neo planes will likely be decommissioned as their engines can’t be overhauled domestically. “Western sanctions have dried up the supply of spare parts for Russian airlines and grounded around half of the country’s Airbus fleet,” notes Newsweek, highlighting how even modern jets are affected.

At the same time, carriers have had to fall back on older aircraft that would normally be headed for retirement. For many regional routes deep in Siberia or the Far East, there is “no alternative but to continue operating older aircraft,” because some remote airfields cannot accommodate newer models like the Sukhoi Superjet.

The consequences of flying decades-old planes were tragically illustrated this July: an Angara Airlines Antonov An-24 turboprop built in 1976 (nearly 50 years old) crashed short of the runway on a Siberian flight, killing all 48 people on board.

Investigators cited crew error as the likely cause, but experts argue that the aircraft’s age was a factor – “Without these restrictions, aircraft of such age would likely no longer be in operation,” one aviation consultant said, referring to how sanctions have kept obsolete planes in service.

Russia’s aviation chief, Dmitry Yadrov, has warned that in a worst-case scenario the country may lose 339 aircraft from its fleet in the next five years (including over 100 Western-made jets) due to lack of parts, essentially a slow-motion fleet collapse.

The domestic aviation industry is straining to keep enough planes airworthy: of roughly 1,135 commercial aircraft on the books, about 1,088 are still in service, with dozens already grounded for lack of spares.

To address what the government gingerly calls a “negative trend” in safety, Russian authorities have begun taking belated action. Officials concluded that some regional airlines now “pose a real threat to human life”, prompting an order for comprehensive safety inspections at 51 regional carriers starting in December.

These audits will scrutinize maintenance practices, crew training, and equipment condition over the coming year. The government is also pumping funds into domestic aircraft production and reportedly even enlisting companies like Rosatom (better known for nuclear energy) to help manufacture spare parts for Western-designed planes.

However, parts produced under improvised local schemes might not meet the exacting standards of the original manufacturers or international regulators. In the meantime, airlines are finding backdoor ways to import critical components – via third countries or shadowy intermediaries – and resorting to measures like officially legalized “cannibalization” of aircraft for parts. These stopgaps have kept planes flying, but at the cost of an alarming frequency of technical glitches in everyday operations.

Why It Matters for Travelers

All of this raises the obvious question for passengers: Is it safe to fly on Russian airlines right now? The issue is not merely theoretical for travelers in 2025. While Russian carriers are barred from the skies of Europe and North America, they continue to operate widely across Asia, the Middle East, and domestic Russia.

Many travelers — especially those in Asia, the Caucasus, or the Middle East — might find themselves considering a flight on a Russian airline, be it a regional hop or a connecting flight via Moscow. The recent spike in incidents is a clear red flag that travelers should weigh carefully.

Even non-fatal malfunctions can be harrowing (or at least highly inconvenient) for passengers. An engine failure that forces an emergency landing, or a hydraulic problem that cancels a flight, can ruin a trip and pose serious safety risks in the worst case.

The fact that Russian authorities themselves have admitted some airlines may be endangering lives underscores that this isn’t just media hype — there are real safety concerns on certain carriers and routes. Most of the increase in incidents has been observed in domestic and regional operations, often on smaller airlines flying older jets to far-flung locales.

If your travels would take you on one of these routes – for example, an internal flight in Siberia or a connection on a secondary Russian carrier – it’s worth being extra cautious.

That said, it’s important to keep perspective. Major disasters remain relatively rare, and the overall annual fatality rate in Russian aviation is not unprecedented by historical standards. Russia’s worst year for air crashes in recent memory was over a decade ago.

In recent years, the average fatalities have hovered around 30 per year, meaning flying in Russia isn’t automatically a death sentence by the numbers. The uptick in incidents is more about reliability than about inevitable crashes – think unscheduled landings, diversions, and last-minute cancellations rather than planes falling out of the sky.

For travelers, that translates to a higher chance of disruption and a narrower safety margin, even if not a high probability of a catastrophic accident on any given flight. It’s a bit of a roulette: you might have a completely routine journey, or you might end up in an emergency landing scenario that you’d rather avoid.

From a traveler’s point of view, risk management is key. If you have alternatives to flying a Russian carrier or transiting through Russia, it may be prudent to use them. For example, if you’re planning a trip from Europe to Asia, you might opt to connect via Istanbul or Dubai rather than Moscow, even if the Russian airline fare is cheaper.

If you do need to fly within Russia or on a Russian airline, it pays to research the airline’s fleet and track record. Flag carriers like Aeroflot and some larger airlines have relatively newer fleets and more resources (they’ve been heavily cannibalizing parts from grounded jets to keep their mainline aircraft running), whereas some tiny regional airlines operating aging Tupolevs or Antonovs on shoestring budgets are more worrisome.

Keep in mind also that pilot experience and training may be uneven – Russia’s industry press has noted that younger pilots often avoid flying the oldest planes, while many veteran crew who know those aircraft are retiring. This skill gap can contribute to human-factor risks on top of mechanical ones.

Finally, there’s the broader stability of the Russian aviation system to consider. With so many planes potentially coming out of service in the next few years , the strain on the remaining fleet is increasing.

Planes that would normally undergo thorough overhauls might be working overtime instead. And while the government is launching inspections and pledging improvements, the question for travelers is whether you want to bet your safety and schedule on an industry under this kind of pressure.

Travel Safety Tips

If your travels might involve Russian airspace or airlines, here are some practical steps to minimize risk and hassle:

  • Consider Alternate Routes or Carriers: When possible, avoid transiting through Russia or flying on Russian carriers, especially for non-essential travel. Opt for airlines from countries not facing these maintenance hurdles. For instance, if you’re flying between Europe and Asia, connect via a Middle Eastern or other hub rather than Moscow. This might slightly increase cost or travel time, but it sidesteps the current reliability concerns on Russia’s airlines.

  • Choose Larger or Newer Aircraft: If you must fly with a Russian airline, try to book flights operated by larger carriers and on newer aircraft models. The big airlines (like Aeroflot, S7, Rossiya) have more robust maintenance operations and larger fleets to swap in spare planes.

    They also tend to operate relatively newer Western-built jets or Sukhoi Superjets (though even these have issues), as opposed to very old Soviet-era planes. Avoid itineraries that put you on obscure regional airlines with a handful of decades-old aircraft – those are the flights seeing the most problems. Russian regulators have singled out regional carriers as particularly risky , so travelers should take note.

  • Build in Buffer Time: Given the spike in flight cancellations and emergency landings in Russia , don’t plan tight connections or same-day important meetings if your journey involves a Russian-leg flight. Have a cushion in your schedule. If a malfunction forces a plane to turn back or if a flight gets grounded for maintenance, you might be stuck for hours or days. Consider scheduling overnight layovers or flexible tickets if flying via Russia, to absorb potential delays.

  • Secure Travel Insurance (and Read the Fine Print): In the current climate, having good travel insurance is essential – but be aware that many Western insurance companies have stopped covering travel within Russia due to sanctions. Standard policies that say “worldwide” often now exclude Russia (and Belarus/Ukraine).

    Before your trip, confirm that your policy covers incidents in Russia if you’ll be flying there or on a Russian airline. If not, look into specialty insurers or Russian insurance providers that offer coverage for foreign travelers.

    A proper policy should cover things like emergency medical care, evacuation, trip interruption, and baggage, even if you’re on a sanctioned carrier. This is crucial because if something does go wrong – whether an accident or just a canceled flight – you don’t want to find out that your expenses won’t be covered.

  • Stay Informed and Vigilant: Conditions in the Russian aviation sector are evolving. Before you travel, check the latest safety news and travel advisories. Governments periodically issue warnings about air safety; for example, the U.S. FAA has advised against certain flights in Russian airspace due to risk factors.

    Similarly, keep an eye on news about the specific airline you’re using. If there are reports of frequent technical issues or if the airline was one flagged for inspections, that’s useful information. When on the ground in Russia, pay attention during safety briefings and note the exits – it’s basic advice, but in a higher-risk environment, being a prepared passenger is wise.

Many newer Russian-operated planes, like the Airbus A320neo, have been grounded due to lack of spare parts, forcing airlines to depend on older jets. When planning a trip, understanding these fleet issues can help you make safer travel choices.

FAQ

Q1. Why are Russian airline malfunctions increasing in 2025?
Because Western sanctions block the import of certified spare parts, forcing airlines to cannibalize grounded planes and rely on aging fleets.

Q2. How many incidents have been recorded so far in 2025?
More than 800 technical malfunctions occurred between January and late November, four times the number recorded in the same period of 2024.

Q3. What kinds of malfunctions are happening?
Engine failures, hydraulic issues, landing gear problems, cabin pressure loss, aborted takeoffs, and emergency landings.

Q4. Are these incidents causing more fatal crashes?
Not proportionally. Fatal accidents remain relatively steady, but the safety buffer is shrinking as unscheduled landings and close calls increase.

Q5. Why can’t Russia simply buy new jets or parts elsewhere?
Sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and allied countries block sales of new aircraft and certified components, limiting Russia’s ability to maintain Western-made planes safely.

Q6. Which aircraft are most affected?
Many Airbus A320neo-family jets are grounded, and older Soviet-era models such as the An-24 and Tu-series are being flown longer than intended.

Q7. What is “cannibalization” in aviation?
It means removing working parts from grounded aircraft to keep other planes flying, a practice Russia is increasingly relying on due to parts shortages.

Q8. Are Russian airlines still flying internationally?
Yes, across Asia, the Middle East, and CIS regions. They remain banned from United States and European Union airspace.

Q9. Is it safe for travelers to fly on Russian carriers?
The risk is not catastrophic, but reliability is lower. Travelers should expect possible emergency landings, flight cancellations, and older aircraft on regional routes.

Q10. What should travelers do if they must fly a Russian airline?
Choose larger carriers, avoid older regional jets, allow buffer time for connections, check recent safety reports, and verify that your travel insurance covers Russia.