The Voronezh Aircraft Production Association plans to close down production and distribution of Antonov An-148 short-haul passenger aircraft, according to Interfax.
Experts note that the decision is a result of the February 11 plane crash involving a Saratov Airlines An-148 which killed 71 people. The Federal Air Transport Agency banned the Russian airline from flying the said type of aircraft. Besides Saratov Airlines, Angara Airlines, the Russia Special Flight Detachment, the Russian Emergencies Ministry and the Russian Air Force employ An-148 jets.
The crashed An-148-100V was manufactured by the Voronezh plant in 2010. It was designed by Ukraine’s Antonov Aviation Research and Development Center (now Antonov State Company) in the 2000s.
“The Voronezh Aircraft Production Association plans to shut down production and distribution program for its Antonov An-148 aircraft,” the company’s financial statement for Q3 2018 states although during the previous quarter the company intended to continue production.
Over the first nine months of 2018, the prime cost of An-148 aircraft amounted to RUR 1.4 bio ($21.2 mio), which is more than a double increase year-on-year.