MOSCOW, February 3 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian air safety regulator expressed concern Monday about the safety of the country’s new Superjet 100 regional airliner.
The Interstate Aviation Committee said on its website that it had notified the plane’s maker, United Aircraft Corporation, about “issues related to the safe operation of the RRJ-95B [Superjet 100].”
The problems were uncovered during tests conducted in collaboration with the Federal Air Transport Agency and other agencies to investigate a “substantial increase in the number of incidents connected with the RRJ-95B.”
The statement did not specify the issues identified in the tests.
The Superjet 100 is built by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, owned by United Aircraft Corp., in cooperation with US and European partners to compete in the medium-haul airliner market.
The plane entered into commercial service two years ago and can seat up to 110 passengers.
In May 2012, one of the planes crashed into a mountainside in Indonesia during a promotional flight killing all 45 people on board. In July, a Superjet 100 made a belly-landing in Iceland when its landing gear failed to extend.
