Russias Regional Airlines Under Scrutiny Following Surge in Aviation Accidents

Russian officials are set to initiate extensive inspections of regional airlines in response to a rising number of aviation incidents and fatalities over recent years, as reported by the pro-Kremlin publication Izvestia on Thursday.

Officials noted that commercial aviation accidents have surged from eight incidents in 2023 to 17 in 2024, with fatalities increasing more than threefold, rising from 12 to 37 during the same timeframe. In the current year of 2025, there have already been 53 fatalities in major incidents, surpassing the combined total from both prior years.

Izvestia referenced a report from Rostransnadzor, Russia’s federal transportation oversight body, which highlighted “systemic breaches of aviation safety regulations” such as insufficient aircraft maintenance, inadequate training for pilots, and non-compliance with technical standards as contributing factors to these accidents.

Concerns regarding safety are also linked to Western sanctions that have compelled carriers to use outdated Soviet-era aircraft that lack new replacement parts. As a result, airlines increasingly resort to maintaining these planes with spare parts retrieved from storage or from retired aircraft.

Industry specialists informed Izvestia that younger pilots tend to avoid flying older planes, while many experienced pilots are retiring, leading to a shortage of skilled personnel.

Authorities have reportedly determined that regional airlines present a genuine risk to public safety, underscoring the need for a “thorough evaluation.”

Starting in December of this year and continuing through December 2026, Rostransnadzor will conduct audits of 51 regional airlines in Russia, as outlined by the Transportation Ministry and a government directive cited by Izvestia.