On Thursday, Saratov Airlines announced that, following the crash disaster last week, it has performed stringent technical checks on its remaining An-148 aircraft and has resumed flight operations with them.

"Our specialist maintenance experts have carried out extra technical inspections on our An-148 and confirm that the aircraft are in full compliance with operating specifications. Therefore, Saratov Airlines has resumed scheduled flights with the An-148 and a flight instructor will accompany the regular crew on each flight”, said the airline’s website.

On February 11, a Saratov Airlines Antonov An-148 aircraft flying between Domodedovo (Moscow) and Orsk (Urals) crashed soon after take-off. All 71 passengers and crew were killed. The airline immediately suspended An-148 operations.