Russian Airline Bans First Officers From Landings After Surge In Hard Landing Incidents

Russian airline S7 Airlines has tightened landing responsibilities after a run of hard-landing events, limiting most first officers from performing landings at many destinations. The temporary rule began June 1 and is set to last until October 1, 2026, aiming to reduce operational disruptions driven by inspections and maintenance after heavy touchdowns. It follows reports from Russian aviation sources and a Telegram channel that said aircraft exceeded acceptable vertical load limits during landings. S7’s deputy general director for flight operations instructed that first officers may land only at a limited set of base airports between those dates. Approved sites include Moscow Domodedovo (DME), Novosibirsk, Irkutsk (except Runway 12), and Vladivostok, while at other destinations captains must handle landings. The measure includes exemptions for certain training and qualification flights.