Russian authorities said Friday they were conducting “checks” after an engine problem on a Russian company's Boeing 737, amid concerns about flight safety and international sanctions affecting aircraft maintenance.
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The plane, an S7 Boeing 737-800, took off from Novosibirsk, Siberia, bound for Moscow but had to turn around to return to its original airport, a local branch of the Transport Investigation Committee said.
According to preliminary information, the aircraft had an engine problem. All 176 people on board are safe.
“The landing was safe. There were no casualties. The reasons and circumstances of the incident are currently being clarified,” emphasized the investigative committee.
The incident comes as Russia can no longer import spare parts for Airbus and Boeing aircraft and no longer has access to maintenance services from the two manufacturers due to Western sanctions against Moscow following the attack on Ukraine.
S7 has already been forced to reduce the number of its flights by 10-15% in the fall and winter due to difficulties keeping its Airbus aircraft in good technical condition, the Russian daily Kommersant reported in October.
Experts say the technical problems are likely to multiply in the coming months, affecting flight safety in Russia and/or grounding Western-made planes.
The country currently has no local alternative to replace its Boeings and Airbuses. Air travel is crucial in the world's largest country, which spans 11 time zones.