Europe’s top aviation safety regulator said on Tuesday that he is very concerned about the safety of Western-made airplanes flying in Russia.
The concern stems from sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union and the United States that restrict Russian airliners’ access to spare parts and maintenance following the invasion of Ukraine.
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“This is very unsafe,” Patrick Ky, executive director of the EU Aviation Safety Agency, said on Tuesday, according to a report.
Ky said regulators should consider requests for exemptions from the sanctions “on a case-by-case basis,” such as for aircraft that operate “for humanitarian reasons,” but he added that “it should not become the norm.”
Ky said regulators do not have good data on the safety records of planes flying in Russia since the Feb. 24 invasion but that safety risks will increase over time.
“In six months, who knows? In one year, who knows?” he asked.
The regulator added that there are reports Russia will cannibalize certain airplanes for parts to keep others in the air.
More than 150 Boeing airplanes operating in Russia are believed to have violated U.S. export controls, the Commerce Department said in March. The department said the aircraft can be seized if they travel outside of Russia and that any companies that refuel, provide maintenance or spare parts, or repair those planes will be subject to U.S. enforcement action.
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In March, Boeing and Airbus suspended the supply of spare parts to Russian airlines and the U.S. banned Russian carriers from American airspace.
The Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Russia’s safety rating in April for failing to comply with international air safety standards.
