More fear than harm for the passengers of the Boeing 737-800. Russian authorities said on Friday they were conducting "checks" after an engine problem on a Boeing 737 operated by a Russian airline, amid concerns for aviation safety as international sanctions affect the maintenance of airliners.
The plane, an S737 Boeing 800-7, had taken off from Novosibirsk, Siberia, to Moscow, but was forced to turn back to return to its home airport, a local transport department of the Investigative Committee said.
According to preliminary data, the aircraft experienced an engine problem. All 176 people on board are safe. "The landing was carried out safely. There were no casualties. The reasons and circumstances of the incident are being established," the Investigation Committee said.
Technical problems that are bound to recur
The incident comes as Russia can no longer import spare parts for Airbus and Boeing planes and no longer has access to the maintenance of the two manufacturers due to Western sanctions targeting Moscow following its assault on Ukraine. S7 has already been forced to reduce the number of its flights by 10-15% in autumn and winter, due to difficulties in keeping its Airbus planes in good technical condition, the Russian daily Kommersant reported in October.
According to experts, technical problems are likely to multiply in the coming months, affecting aviation safety in Russia and/or grounding Western-made aircraft. The country currently has no local alternative to replace its Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Air travel is vital in the world's largest country, which spans 11 time zones.