Russian airline Angara faces potential suspension after safety violations

The Primorye-based airline Angara may be forced to suspend operations following safety inspections conducted after a recent crash in the Amur region, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

While the airline continues to operate flights, the Federal Air Transport Agency’s supervisory body, Rostransnadzor, found serious violations. According to the agency, half of Angara’s fleet is being operated in breach of regulations, aircraft are flying without proper maintenance, and pilots are insufficiently trained. These issues could lead to the revocation of the airline’s operator certificate.

“Despite severe safety violations and the temporary grounding of 18 out of 28 aircraft, Angara has failed to take the necessary corrective measures,” Rostransnadzor head Viktor Gulin wrote in a letter to Rosaviatsiya.

Experts warn that replacing Angara’s services would be difficult. Other carriers would need to acquire its fleet and hire its staff to maintain air connectivity in the Far East. Many regional Siberian airports cannot accommodate modern aircraft, making the airline’s fleet of An-24 planes—one of the oldest aircraft types still in operation in Russia—essential for regional air travel.

By Vugar Khalilov