Flights operated by "Angara" were suspended following the revocation of their aviation certificate.
The Russian federal air transport regulator, Rosaviatsiya, has revoked the maintenance certificate of Angara Airlines following an unscheduled inspection by Rostransnadzor. The inspection revealed serious violations in Angara’s technical maintenance activities, including documentation being prepared without the actual performance of work and failure to use the necessary tools and equipment [1][4].
This decision came days after a fatal Antonov An-24 accident involving Angara Airlines, although Rosaviatsiya has not explicitly linked the maintenance violations to the crash itself. The crash likely resulted from low flying during a second landing attempt that caused the aircraft to hit terrain, rather than a direct technical failure [1][2].
Implications for future flights
As a result of the revocation, Angara Airlines can no longer perform maintenance on its own aircraft and must use certified third-party organizations for all aircraft and component maintenance [1][3]. This change has led to some flights operated by Angara being canceled or delayed due to the reorganization of maintenance processes. Angara continues operating flights but warns of potential disruptions and guarantees the protection of passengers’ rights for impacted flights [1][3].
Investigations and Measures
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin established a government commission to address the aftermath of the An-24 crash, headed by Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin. The commission was established on July 24 [5].
No information was provided about the measures taken by Angara to ensure safety after the revocation of their certificate for technical maintenance. However, Angara has assured that all obligations to passengers will be fully met [3].
The crash occurred while approaching for landing on the route from Khabarovsk to Blagoveshchensk, and all 48 people on board were killed [1]. A criminal case has been opened under Part 3 of Art. 263 of the Criminal Code, involving violation of air transport safety rules, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence [6].
In summary, the certificate revocation reflects systemic problems in maintenance quality and documentation at Angara Airlines following regulatory inspections and a recent fatal crash, resulting in mandated reliance on external maintenance providers and operational disruptions [1][2][3].
- The revocation of Angara Airlines' maintenance certificate by Rosaviatsiya may have implications for the finance industry, as the airline now needs to rely on third-party organizations for all aircraft and component maintenance, potentially increasing costs.
- The incident involving Angara Airlines, a fatal Antonov An-24 accident, falls under the category of crime-and-justice, as a criminal case has been opened investigating the violation of air transport safety rules that resulted in the death of several individuals.
- Beyond the aviation industry, the unfolding events at Angara Airlines, including the crash and subsequent certificate revocation, are a part of the general-news, adding another layer of complexity to the current state of Russian air transport regulation and safety.
