At least 14 Superjet passenger planes, built in Russia, are reportedly in operation on domestic routes despite having design defects in their fuselage, according to pro-Kremlin media on Tuesday, which cited communications from both the manufacturer and the federal aviation authority.

The publication Izvestia revealed that Yakovlev, the manufacturer of the aircraft, alerted Rosaviatsia about these structural problems back in May. Subsequently, on August 1, the civil aviation authority issued orders for airlines operating SJ-100 models with serial numbers ranging from 95104 to 95117 to carry out inspections and necessary repairs.

All 14 of these Superjet airplanes were produced in 2016.

Rossiya Airlines, one of the major carriers in Russia, is reported to operate at least one of the affected SJ-100 units. Additionally, the regional airline Azimuth is believed to have another SJ-100 in service, while Yamal Airlines operates five more, with the other aircraft currently stored at various organizations, including the Sukhoi design bureau.

As noted by Izvestia, Yakovlev indicated that certain structural components, known as stringers, which serve to reinforce the fuselage, were inadequately secured in the section between the cockpit and the passenger entry door. The inspection process necessitates the disassembly of several airplane components, including the door-frame skin, the lavatory module, along with thermal and acoustic insulation.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100, now branded as the SJ-100, plays a vital role in Russia’s domestic commercial aircraft initiative, aimed at decreasing dependence on Western manufacturers due to sanctions. To date, over 230 SJ-100s have been constructed, with approximately 100 of them currently possessing active airworthiness certificates.