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THE SUKHOI SUPERJET 100 FACES AN UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK DUE TO SANCTIONS AND OPERATIONAL FAILURESForget Superjet. Its terrible in-service record due to terrible manufacturer support bankrupted Interjet.
I short, Superjet confirmed that western airlines could not risk using Russia airliners.
Sukhoi Superjet 100 - Wikipedia
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A21 Editorial Staff A21 Editorial Staff December 17, 2024
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 faces an uncertain outlook due to sanctions and operational failures
Although the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) is a relatively new aircraft model to the market, a total of 95 incidents involving this aircraft have been recorded since April 2011, including five that resulted in the total loss of the hull. Of these, three accidents resulted in 89 fatalities.
These figures have raised questions about its safety, despite the fact that it is considered as reliable as any other commercial aircraft, according to international standards. However, the sanctions imposed on Russian companies could change this perception in the coming years.
Since its first flight in May 2008 and its official entry into service in 2011, approximately 229 SSJ-100s have been manufactured. Designed to carry between 87 and 108 passengers, it has a cruise speed of Mach 0.78-0.81 and a maximum range of 4,578 kilometers. Despite its promising specifications, its geographic distribution and airline adoption are limited, both within and outside Russia.
Interjet, a Mexican airline, was one of the first to incorporate the SSJ-100 into its fleet (2013). However, reliability issues with the model and a slow supply of spare parts forced the airline to ground several units. By 2019, 15 of its 22 aircraft were grounded, and the company planned to replace them with Airbus A320neo models. Interjet's financial situation worsened, leading to its bankruptcy filing in April 2021.
In Europe, CityJet also adopted the SSJ-100, adding seven units between 2016 and 2018. These aircraft, which operated temporarily for Brussels Airlines, also faced reliability issues. By 2020, CityJet retired all aircraft of this model. Currently, only four SSJ-100s are operated by entities outside of Russia: three by the Royal Thai Air Force and one by the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan.
Of the five accidents that resulted in total hull loss, three were attributed to human error.
In May 2012, a demonstration flight in Indonesia ended tragically when the pilot ignored the terrain warning system alarms and the aircraft crashed into Mount Salak, killing 45 people.
In October 2015, an Interjet SSJ-100 collided with a passenger jetway at Mexico City International Airport while being towed, causing no injuries.
In October 2018, an incident in Yakutsk, Russia, resulted in severe damage to the landing gear due to icy conditions, although there were no fatalities.
The deadliest accident occurred in May 2019 at Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow. After being struck by lightning, an Aeroflot SSJ-100 returned for an emergency landing. The maneuver was too abrupt, causing a fire that quickly spread through the aircraft. This incident left 41 dead out of a total of 78 passengers on board.
In July 2024, an accident during a test flight conducted by Gazpromavia resulted in the deaths of three crew members. Preliminary investigations suggest errors in the installation of angle-of-attack sensors.
Thus, the Sukhoi Superjet has been under scrutiny since its launch, like other new models. Although design improvements have been made to mitigate failures, international sanctions imposed on Russia since 2022 have complicated maintenance of these aircraft.
Aviation Week reported in 2023 that only 20% of imported SSJ parts could be repaired by Russian suppliers, increasing the number of aircraft parked or stored.
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Sukhoi's parent company, began development of the SJ-100, a fully "Russified" version of the Superjet.
This model made its first flight in 2023. However, airlines operating SSJ-100s with Western components continue to face difficulties keeping them operational, which could increase incident reports in the future.
According to the Aviation Safety Network database, most of the 95 reported incidents involving the SSJ-100 were minor and did not result in serious injuries or casualties. Although fatal accidents have been primarily attributed to human error, the increase in incidents since 2022 underscores the challenges these aircraft face in the current environment.
Finally, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 meets the same safety standards as other commercial aircraft. However, its future is conditioned by international restrictions.
Enfrenta el Sukhoi Superjet 100 panorama incierto por sanciones y fallos operativos
Pese a que el avión Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) es un modelo de aeronave relativamente de recién ingreso al mercado,
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