Aeroflot, Russia's national carrier, is facing difficulties in obtaining maintenance parts for foreign aircraft, resulting in at least nine planes currently operating without brakes. To address the issue of worn-out brakes on Airbus and Boeing planes, Aeroflot has instructed its pilots to turn them off.
.gif)
The airline has been using these nine planes, including four Airbus aircraft and five Boeing 777s, since the end of July 2023. However, Aeroflot has warned its pilots about the potential dangers of flying without brakes. In a memo issued to pilots by the flight operations department, the airline stated that the aircraft will tend to turn towards the side where the brakes are not deactivated, particularly when landing on a wet runway with a crosswind.
Airlines are authorized to operate planes with deactivated brakes for up to ten days when replacement parts are not readily available. Following the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia after it invaded Ukraine, aviation companies are unable to service the country's aircraft or provide spare parts. As a result, Aeroflot, which predominantly uses Western-made Airbus and Boeing jets, cannot directly access parts and spares from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The airline has reportedly started sending its planes to Iran for maintenance to bypass these restrictions. Iran, having been under heavy sanctions for several decades, is believed to have developed extensive knowledge in repairing aircraft under such circumstances. However, previous media reports have indicated a deteriorating safety situation at Aeroflot, with one Russian investigative news publication claiming that the airline had instructed its staff to stop logging malfunctions on flights to prevent planes from being grounded, despite the need for repairs.