Cape Town – A Russian cargo plane, an Ilyushin Il-76 operated by Moscow-based Abakan Air and blacklisted by the US for transporting military equipment, was granted permission to land in South Africa.
According to City Press, the aircraft landed in Upington, Northern Cape, with a full cargo load and later departed empty, stopping at Lanseria Airport for refueling.
Blacklisted Russian cargo plane lands heavily loaded in SA, departs empty.@News24 pic.twitter.com/V7N69dQZqi
— Megan S. (@SimplyMegszcpt) October 5, 2025
The South African Department of Transport confirmed that Abakan Air applied for and received a foreign operator’s permit to transport “general cargo, civilian helicopters, and acrobatic airplanes,” The Citizen reported.
“I can confirm that Abakan Air applied for a foreign operator’s permit on 09 September 2025. It was issued on 23 September 2025. The purpose was to transport general cargo, civilian helicopters, and acrobatic aeroplanes.
“It must also be noted that the South African government has not blacklisted the operator. Furthermore, we have no knowledge or receipt of any information from any other Government that this operator has been blacklisted,” the report quoted Department of Transport (DoT) spokesperson Collen Msibi as saying.
Abakan Air, sanctioned by the US in June 2024, reportedly also operates flights that are often hidden from public tracking, the report said.
The airline claims it is licensed in Russia to transport cargo, including radioactive substances.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
