In light of this, is Uzbekistan Airways, the national air carrier, prepared for such situations?

The Red Wings flight RWZ-1512, departing from Tashkent to Kazan, encountered a Ukrainian aerial attack on the city during its landing. Due to the "cover" protocol, the aircraft was unable to land at its destination and circled about 80 kilometers away.

At 10:25 AM Tashkent time, the plane headed toward Samara and successfully landed at Kurumoch International Airport.

The Tatarstan government confirmed that the drone attack occurred on the night of January 20. According to eyewitnesses, an empty tank in the area of the aircraft factory caught fire as a result of the attack. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a total of 31 drones were shot down overnight. No casualties or serious damages were recorded.

Are aviation companies in Uzbekistan ready for such situations?

As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian airspace has become dangerous even for civilian aircraft. On December 25, an aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines flying from Baku to Grozny was similarly diverted to Aktau due to an aerial attack and crashed.

Kun.uz contacted the press service of Uzbekistan Airways to inquire about how prepared the airline is for such situations. According to the response, the airline has heightened its alertness following the situation in Russian airspace. If one of its planes encounters a similar aerial attack, the aircraft commander will determine the next steps based on the latest information.

“Yes, pilots of every airline are trained to handle such situations. The aircraft commander assesses the situation, clarifies the latest information during the flight, and acts accordingly. Then, following the company’s established rules, they work to ensure the safest possible flight,” the press service stated.