U.S. Warns Against Helping Russian Aircraft Fly Home

Commerce Department says AirBridgeCargo planes escaped; secondary sanctions could apply for refueling.

Monday, March 21, 2022 at 10:36 AM ET

Verified

According to the Bureau of Industry Security, AirBridgeCargo, the scheduled cargo airline subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Group, violated U.S. sanctions by relocating 12 Boeing 747-8 and 747-400 freighters to Russia from third countries. [Courtesy:AirBridgeCargo]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. government identified over 85 Russian aircraft, including freighters, that returned to Russia to evade sanctions, warning that any assistance (maintenance, refueling, parts) to these planes is prohibited and subject to severe penalties and secondary sanctions.
Strict U.S. export controls now require licenses for aviation items and services destined for Russia and Belarus, effectively grounding sanctioned aircraft internationally and leading to citations for companies like AirBridgeCargo for non-compliance.
Beyond the U.S., international entities such as the EU and Bermuda have implemented similar restrictions, including banning technical assistance and suspending airworthiness certificates for Russian aircraft, reinforcing a coordinated global effort.

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.

The U.S. government on Friday identified more than 85 Russian aircraft, including a dozen freighters, that have scurried back to Russia to escape sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine and warned that companies assisting such flights are subject to enforcement of secondary sanctions for violating export controls.