Ural Airlines has opted to abandon its plans to rescue a stranded Airbus A320 from a Siberian wheat field due to prohibitive costs and logistical challenges. The aircraft has been immobile since making an emergency landing due to a hydraulic failure that also resulted in a low-fuel situation in September last year. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the nearly 170 passengers, who were compensated with approximately $1,100 each.
The Russian carrier had initially sought to recover and repair the aircraft, with progress updates shared on Telegram. However, the complexity of the retrieval and the current geopolitical climate, which includes Western sanctions limiting Russia’s access to new aircraft and parts, have made the task unfeasible. An airline representative explained to Izvestia that the absence of support from Airbus was a significant factor in their decision. The company has already incurred about 10.5 million rubles ($112,000) in various expenses related to the stranded plane, including land rental, fencing, and security.
Efforts to either take off from a makeshift runway in the winter or to construct a new one proved impractical due to soil conditions and the challenge of transporting necessary materials from Novosibirsk, some 120 miles away. Consequently, Ural Airlines is now considering disassembling the aircraft and removing it in sections, possibly by helicopter.
This decision leaves Ural with a reduced fleet amid ongoing sanctions that prevent Russian airlines from acquiring Boeing and Airbus jets. The loss is particularly impactful as it restricts the carrier’s operational capacity and compounds the challenges posed by limited access to new aircraft and spare parts. Despite these setbacks, Ural Airlines may still salvage parts from the A320 to maintain its remaining fleet, continuing a trend seen across Russian airlines who are resorting to unconventional means to source necessary components.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, businessinsider.com
