Ural

Ural Airlines emphasizes flight safety as a core priority and has implemented a multi-level control system to ensure a high level of reliability for its operations.

• Recent safety record and any notable incidents:
• On September 12, 2023, Ural Airlines Flight 1383, an Airbus A320, executed an emergency landing in a field near Omsk due to hydraulic failure and a lack of fuel. All 161 passengers and 6 crew members on board survived without injury. The aircraft was later slated for scrapping.
• On August 15, 2019, Ural Airlines Flight 178, an Airbus A321, made an emergency landing in a cornfield near Zhukovsky after a bird strike caused engine damage. All 233 occupants survived, with 28 individuals seeking medical treatment and 3 sustaining serious injuries.
• Other incidents include an Airbus A320 lightning strike in January 2022, a failure of speed and altitude indication instruments on an A321 in September 2021, and a rejected takeoff due to engine trouble on an A321 in May 2021.
• A December 2024 report highlighted a significant increase in aviation incidents for Russian airlines in 2024, attributing this to international sanctions affecting spare parts and maintenance. The report specifically mentioned an incident involving a Ural Airlines Airbus that experienced autopilot and nose wheel steering malfunctions, yet was reportedly back in service the following day.

• Regulatory certifications: Ural Airlines is an IOSA registered operator, indicating its adherence to international operational safety standards. It is also a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). However, in April 2022, the European Commission added Ural Airlines to the EU Air Safety List. This decision prohibited the airline from operating within the European Union due to serious safety concerns related to Russia's re-registration of foreign-owned aircraft and their operation without valid certificates of airworthiness, a breach of international aviation safety standards.

• Fleet age and maintenance reputation: The airline emphasizes that proper and professional technical maintenance is paramount for flight safety, irrespective of aircraft age. Ural Airlines operates its own technical aviation center, certified according to international standards EASAPart 145, and states that its aircraft undergo regular inspections and maintenance. The average age of the airline's fleet is 12 years. Despite this, recent reports from November 2023 and December 2024 indicate that Russian airlines, including Ural Airlines, are facing challenges in obtaining original spare parts for their Western-made jets due to international sanctions, which has led to concerns about maintenance and instances of aircraft cannibalization.

• Overall safety assessment: While Ural Airlines has a documented commitment to safety, as evidenced by its IOSA certification and past recognition from Airline Ratings (seven out of seven stars in 2019) and Jacdec (Top 100 safest airlines in 2019), its inclusion on the EU Air Safety List in 2022 and ongoing reports about maintenance difficulties stemming from international sanctions introduce considerable concerns regarding its current safety environment.

• Any safety awards or recognitions:
• Recognized with "The Wings Award" for "Internal air transportation in Group I" and "Business Project of 20th anniversary in civil aviation of Russia".
• Received "Wings of Goodness" for "The Best Social project in Russia".
• Awarded "Oracle" for "For the best innovative project in the field of information technologies".
• Honored with the "Safety Leaders Award" in the category of "Safety in transport: aviation Security".
• Received a seven out of seven stars safety rating from Airline Ratings in 2019.
• Included in the German audit company Jacdec's list of the world's Top 100 safest airlines in 2019.
• Awarded "Airline of the Year" at the "Wings of Russia" prize in 2018.