Commercial Airliner Accidents Reveal Serious Problems In The Industry

A new report from a London consulting firm has identified Russia as the most dangerous country in the world to fly on a commercial airliner. The report indicates that fatalities and accidents in Russia over the past year exceed statistics from less-developed places like Congo and Indonesia.

Tu-134 File Photo

The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.K-based consulting firm Ascend shows that fatalities in Russia stemming from aviation accidents have risen dramatically from none in 2009, when the country completed an extensive safety campaign, to nine accidents involving Russian airliners in 2011, including one in which an entire hockey team was fatally injured. Intoxicated or panicked pilots, forged safety documents, and a lack of knowledge of procedures have been cited as contributing to those accidents.

Russian officials are dismissive of the report, and say that new, tighter regulations and inspections will improve the situation. They also say they have shut down some smaller carriers and grounded older planes.

But some companies doing business in Russia, particularly in remote areas, have told employees they should not fly Russian airlines, or even get aboard Russian-built airliners.

FMI: www.ascendworldwide.com