Politics aside, this is without a doubt the most interesting plane to enter United States airspace today…
In this post:
Russian government jet flies from Moscow to Anchorage
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to have a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, tomorrow (Friday, August 15, 2025). While we’ll see what comes of this — I hope there’s an end to the Ukraine war, and the senseless deaths we’re seeing — there’s an interesting aviation angle, in the meantime.
As I publish this post, a Russian-built Ilyushin Il-96-300, belonging to the Russian government’s fleet, is about to land in the United States. Specifically, this flight is being operated with the flight number RSD381, and it’s being operated by a roughly nine-year-old plane with the registration code RA-96023.
The aircraft took off from Moscow (VKO) at 7:50AM local time this morning, and is expected to land at Elmendorf Air Force Base (EDF) at around 6:40AM local time, after a flight time of around 10 hours. As you’d expect, the aircraft was over Russian airspace for most of the journey, flying over land and then over the East Siberian Sea, prior to crossing the Bering Sea and then entering United States airspace.
Of course ordinarily, Russian registered aircraft couldn’t use United States airspace. However, there are special exceptions for this flight.
It hasn’t officially been revealed whether Putin is on this flight or not, though we should find out soon. Perhaps he is onboard, because he probably wants to be well rested ahead of the meeting. Or maybe he’s not onboard, and isn’t comfortable spending a night in the United States, and just plans to go straight from his plane to the meeting. Either way, I imagine there could be several Russian jets headed to Anchorage.
Ilyushin Il-96-300s fly to the US with some frequency
While this is certainly the most high profile Russian flight to land in the United States in quite some time, the Russian government’s fleet of Ilyushin Il-96-300s actually make it to the country with some frequency. Every several months, we see one of these planes operate a triangle route from Moscow to New York to Washington and back to Moscow.
These special flights are possible in order to “cycle” Russian diplomats, since they can only be in the United States for so long. Perhaps an even more interesting flight was in March 2022, when a Russian government jet flew from St. Petersburg to Washington. That flight had a more exciting backstory, as its purpose was to pick up 12 expelled Russian intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission, who were accused of espionage.
As an avgeek, I can’t help but be fascinated by these flights. While I can’t personally vouch for how accurate this is, below is a video about what one of these government jets that’s frequently flown by Putin is actually like.
Bottom line
A Russian government Ilyushin Il-96-300 is currently enroute from Moscow to Anchorage, and will be landing shortly. This plane may very well have Putin onboard, ahead of his meeting with Trump tomorrow. Politics aside, as an aviation geek, I find these Ilyushin planes to be very cool.
What do you make of this Moscow to Anchorage flight?
(Featured image courtesy of Dmitry Terekhov)
Can you book a flight on it with points? If not then please stick to practical travel related topics.
I was an A340 when the 747 wasn’t cool!
Awesome looking airplane be it thirsty and solid.
This apparently was the plane caught trafficking cocaine out of Argentina a year or so ago.
Interesting that it "diverted" from EDF to ANC just before landing. Normally when a government VIP plane lands in ANC rather than EDF, it is parked on the south side of the airfield, very close to the perimeter (somewhat near Lynden Air Cargo on the map).
Today's first arrival instead parked in an area typically used by international cargo flights that are in transit, but not loading/unloading much. Anyone who airside in the terminal...
Interesting that it "diverted" from EDF to ANC just before landing. Normally when a government VIP plane lands in ANC rather than EDF, it is parked on the south side of the airfield, very close to the perimeter (somewhat near Lynden Air Cargo on the map).
Today's first arrival instead parked in an area typically used by international cargo flights that are in transit, but not loading/unloading much. Anyone who airside in the terminal is getting a once in a lifetime direct view at the moment.
As mentioned earlier, it's the first of a few inbound arrivals. FR24 shows two more in the air, RSD171 and RSD308. What a crazy week.
Well thank God SOMEBODY in this godforsaken admin had the good sense at the last minute not to let a Russian jet probably loaded with SIGINT equipment land at a major USAF base.
Hope we see an end to all American involvement in this Ukraine war, financial or otherwise. This is not America's problem......Ukraine has already lost territory from over a decade ago and they need to face the fact that they aren't getting it back anytime soon. If the Europeans care so much, let them deal with this.
Oh look a Putin whor*.
For every onlineblowj*b to Vlad he gets 500 points. 2000 points get you a free flight (out of a window).
Sanction every Russian bank and every international bank that does business with Russian banks, the Russian government, or Russian oligarchs. We know who, and they'll cry uncle.
But that'll never happen because the party of Reagan elected a Russian puppet.
You’re white trash.
Elmendorf AFB ceased to exist in 2010, when it became part of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Gross. Shoot it down!
Someone needs a lay
Speaking of: I am currently sitting in J on an SU A350 and you have to try it Lucky. Hard product aside (AI & TK have it) the soft product is nothing short of surreal. Genuinely, Lanson poured at your seat as a PDB, excellent amenities, amazing crew, I think it would sneak into your top 5 business class products.
Anyhoo, I know it’s not really the time to visit Russia per se, but hoping you review it if the situation improves.
Why are you in Russia? Disgusting.
Yay! Another Surrender Summit!
Trump knows who he works for.
"Yay! Another Surrender Summit!"
Its obvious that Ukraine is slowly losing the war and the question needs to be asked why we need to keep funding a lost cause. While Ukraine has a right to decide if it accepts the terms of any deal, as Americans we have a right to determine if we fund this exercise in futility.
@Jeff
First, there's a huge difference between Russia successfully occupying Donbas and Russia actually taking over Ukraine. Russia's manpower issues are so acute that they're having to coerce civilians into signing contract papers, plus the whole North Koreans bit, while importing Indian laborers to shore up their domestic industries.
Second, the vast majority of the aid we've given to Ukraine is older mothballed vehicles and weapons near the end of their shelf life. Most...
@Jeff
First, there's a huge difference between Russia successfully occupying Donbas and Russia actually taking over Ukraine. Russia's manpower issues are so acute that they're having to coerce civilians into signing contract papers, plus the whole North Koreans bit, while importing Indian laborers to shore up their domestic industries.
Second, the vast majority of the aid we've given to Ukraine is older mothballed vehicles and weapons near the end of their shelf life. Most of the actual cash given to Ukraine, which to be clear has been a miniscule portion of the aid, has come from seized Russian assets not the American taxpayer. Many of the billions of dollars of Ukraine aid went into OUR OWN DOMESTIC COMPANIES to expand production of munitions. IE, we invested in our own industry and workers to make stuff to sell and enlarge our stockpiles for future conflicts. All that was done under Biden. Trump is just rolling over and setting the stage for Putin to grab Narva 5 years down the road.
We could do far more against Russia just economically, but at this point Trump is more likely to just hand him Alaska and STILL let him keep Crimea.
"I imagine there could be several Russian jets headed to Anchorage."
Another Il-96 departed VKO about an hour ago at time of writing. RSD171 is showing as en route to ANC rather than EDF arriving around 3pm Anchorage time.