The Yakovlev MS-21 made the first takeoff from Grozny airport’s newly opened runway in Chechnya on Saturday, as the Russian carrier’s import-substituted narrowbody joined the commissioning ceremony for the 3,200-metre strip. The aircraft flew from Zhukovsky to Grozny to take part in the event, which also highlighted the airport’s upgraded ability to handle larger aircraft and more demanding weather conditions.
The runway opening forms part of a wider modernisation of Grozny’s air gateway and gives the airport a longer, more capable operating surface. Regional and transport officials attended the ceremony, including Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov, who has frequently been associated with major infrastructure projects in the republic.
The MS-21 involved in the demonstration remains in test operations at Zhukovsky and has been promoted as part of Russia’s domestically equipped civil aviation programme. Its appearance in Grozny provided a public showcase for the aircraft while the runway commissioning tied the airframe’s test activity to a visible infrastructure milestone for the airport.