Boeing suspends jet maintenance for Russian airlines

Boeing has announced that it is suspending technical support operations for its planes owned by Russian airlines after multiple countries closed their airspace to Russian planes in response to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.

“We have suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed our office in [the Ukrainian capital Kiev],” a Boeing spokesperson said on Tuesday as cited by Reuters.

“We are also suspending parts, maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines. As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region,” the company added.

Multiple countries, including the EU, the UK and Canada, previously shut their airspace to Russian airlines shortly after Moscow invaded its neighbor on Thursday, arguing that it was defending the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which broke off from Ukraine after the 2014 coup in Kiev. Ukraine said the attack was completely unprovoked and has appealed to the international community for help.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday that the skies of the whole EU were closed to Russian aircraft. Moscow responded in kind, banning flights of airlines from 36 states and territories.

During his annual State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday night, US President Joe Biden followed suit, declaring that American airspace would also be closed off to all Russian flights, also warning that Moscow “has no idea what's coming,” referring to Western retaliation to its action in Ukraine.