In the wake of recent aviation tragedies involving world leaders, questions have arisen regarding the safety of Russian President Vladimir Putin's air travel.
This comes after the Vice President of Malawi was confirmed dead in a plane crash on Tuesday, following the fatal helicopter crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi a few weeks prior, as reported by The Daily Beast.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to allay fears, stating that Putin travels on "domestic aircraft," which he described as "very reliable" and subject to "special maintenance." He further asserted that all Russian aircraft adhere to "strict standards" to ensure safety. "There are regulatory agencies, so the system works here," Peskov said.
However, these assurances were oddly juxtaposed with the announcement from the Russian Defense Ministry that a military jet had crashed in the mountains of North Ossetia due to a "technical malfunction," resulting in the death of all crew members on board.
The International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations body, has identified Russia as one of the four most perilous countries for aviation, following at least 180 accidents in the country last year, a figure that is double that of 2022, according to Novaya Gazeta Europe. This poor safety record predates the Western sanctions that have left Russian airlines bereft of spare parts for foreign-made planes.
The Aviation Safety Network's data further underscores the gravity of the situation, revealing that Russia has had more plane crash fatalities over the past two decades than any other country. This raises questions about the veracity of Peskov's assurances and the efficacy of the regulatory agencies he mentioned. It also highlights the need for a thorough review of Russia's aviation safety standards and practices.
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