The Department of Transport (DoT) has confirmed the approval and issuing of a Foreign Operator’s Permit (FOP) to the US-blacklisted Russian Abakan Air aircraft that landed in Upington last week.
The Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo aircraft, blacklisted by the US for suspicious activities, landed heavily loaded on Thursday under mysterious circumstances.
It departed with an empty hold after later refuelling at Lanseria Airport, raising alarm about its undisclosed cargo.
In a scene reminiscent of the Lady R incident, when a Russian cargo vessel docked at Simon’s Town Naval Base in December 2022, the mystery flight sparked concerns over transparency and compliance in South Africa’s aviation sector.
However, DoT confirmed in a statement on Monday night that the operator, Abakan Air, had applied for the FOP on September 9. It denied having any knowledge of the aircraft being blacklisted and said the operator had complied with all requirements for the issuing of the permit.
“The department subsequently issued the permit on 23 September. The application sought a permit authorising the airline to transport general cargo, civilian helicopter and acrobatic aeroplanes,” the DOT said,
“The application also required the operator to submit information about the consignor/consignee of the cargo, which in this case was provided and confirmed by the relevant company in writing. Furthermore, the operator was also required to contract a regulated cargo agent in South Africa, and that was also confirmed,” the department said.
It said details of the crew and their paperwork were also required and had been submitted accordingly.
“The flight plan was also required by the ATNS. Further information can be obtained from ATNS regarding the Plan. It is important to highlight that the South African government has not blacklisted the operator, concerned … the department has no knowledge or record of any information from any other government indicating that this operator has been blacklisted,” the DoT said.
Operated by Moscow-based Abakan Air, the aircraft (registration RA-76445) was tracked on Flightradar24 in Iran before arriving via Dar es Salaam, becoming visible only after departure from the Tanzanian hub, City Press reported at the weekend.
Abakan Air, owned by Yulia Anatolyevna Ilyina according to the site, ch-aviation.com, holds a Russian licence to transport radioactive cargo, intensifying speculation about its mission.
The US Treasury blacklisted the aircraft in June 2024 for moving Russian military equipment, linking Abakan to support flights for Russia’s Africa Corps, formerly the Wagner Group, active in nations like Libya and Mali.
Upington’s 4 900m runway, one of the world’s longest, and its historical ties to the Vastrap weapons testing range, used for South Africa’s nuclear programme decades ago, added to the intrigue of the landing.
London-based watchdog blacklist.aero warned South African aviation suppliers against servicing the aircraft, citing Abakan’s more than R17 million debt for aviation services and sanction risks, as it is blacklisted by the US. Shortly before the aircraft landed, the watchdog sent a letter warning suppliers not to provide fuel or support services.
