Following the accident involving the Superjet 100 on November 24 in Antalya, Russian authorities Rostransnadzor and Rosaviatsia identified more than 20 violations concerning operational safety and aircraft maintenance by Azimuth Airlines, according to a report by Izvestia.
Among the detected irregularities were concealment of overweight landings, allowing flights without required maintenance, and the use of uncertified tools for repairs. Additionally, the airline fails to adequately oversee the quality of maintenance work and improperly records the results.
12% of landings performed by SSJ-100 aircraft in 2024 included runway bounces after initial contact, a phenomenon known as «bucking.» This type of maneuver can cause structural damage to aircraft and highlights deficiencies in pilot training. In six flights, overloads exceeded 2g with excessive vertical speeds, yet these were not recorded as «hard landings» in the airline’s reports.
Records indicate that maintenance tasks were incomplete or carried out hastily. For instance, landing gear maintenance was completed in just 6.5 minutes, violating airworthiness directives. Critical inspections were also skipped, such as checking the bolts securing windshield pressure plates, which should be conducted every 500 flight cycles.
The airline underestimated the duration of flight shifts by omitting mandatory medical exams, increasing the workload for pilots. At least 17 cases related to this practice were identified.
As of 2024, Azimuth has recorded one accident and at least 24 incidents classified by Rosaviatsia, 75% of which were related to technical issues. Common failures include depressurization, landing gear issues, and hydraulic failures. Additionally, more than 150 technical events causing delays were documented, including aborted takeoffs and returns to the ramp.
Consequences and corrective measures
Following the inspection results, two SSJ-100 aircraft were temporarily grounded but have since returned to service after repairs. Rosaviatsia stated that the identified violations are exclusively related to Azimuth’s operational procedures and not to design flaws in the Superjet 100.
However, aviation safety experts such as Andrey Patrakov from RunAvia criticize the lack of a transparency culture in Russian aviation and the absence of a state safety program compliant with ICAO standards. Since 2015, Russia has not implemented a comprehensive policy aligned with this organization’s recommendations, a situation exacerbated by international sanctions and the dual registration of aircraft.
Reactions and next steps
Rostransnadzor issued orders to correct the violations and is currently overseeing their implementation along with Rosaviatsia. According to sources from the Ministry of Transport, Azimuth’s flight director could face dismissal as a result of the investigations.
With the new Federal Aviation Rules (FAR-367 «Part 145») set to take effect in March 2025, maintenance standards across the Russian aviation industry are expected to improve. However, experts note that unless effective preventive measures are adopted, issues like those identified at Azimuth will continue to jeopardize operational safety.
