ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A Kurdish airline has effectively lost a $6 million aircraft after it remained stranded in Ukraine for more than four years due to the ongoing war.
Fly Erbil officials confirmed that one of their planes has been stuck at an airport in Kyiv since the early days of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The aircraft has been unable to leave due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace following the outbreak of war.
The plane had traveled to Ukraine in February 2022. It landed at Zhulyany Airport in Kyiv shortly before the escalation of hostilities. Within days, Russia launched a large-scale invasion, forcing the suspension of all civilian flights across the country.
As a result, the aircraft has remained grounded ever since. No commercial flights have operated from the airport during this period, leaving the plane stranded without a clear timeline for recovery.
Lavand Mamundi, head of Fly Erbil, said the company initially expected the conflict to end quickly. However, as the situation worsened, airline staff were evacuated to Europe and later returned to Erbil, leaving the aircraft behind.
He explained that the plane has not undergone any maintenance for years. This has caused serious deterioration and rendered the aircraft unusable. Officials say it has effectively become non-operational.
The aircraft is a Boeing 737 with a capacity of 158 passengers. It is considered a major asset for the airline, and its loss represents a significant financial setback.
Fly Erbil, established in 2018, operates flights to several destinations in Europe and other regions. Ukraine had been one of its active routes before the war.
Company officials say the prolonged conflict has made recovery nearly impossible. They added that the airline continues to bear the financial burden of the loss, with no immediate solution in sight.