A Russian government Ilyushin Il-96 has entered US airspace and is on its way to Anchorage, ahead of planned high-level talks in Alaska. The long-range widebody, operating as flight RSD381, departed Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Thursday morning and is expected to land at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson.
No escort aircraft have been detected, but flight tracking data shows that two additional Russian government aircraft have also departed Moscow and are heading toward Anchorage. Officials have not confirmed who is on board the first Il-96, though Russian media outlets report that senior members of a government delegation are making the journey for high-level engagements in Alaska.
Special Flight Unit Il-96 Arrives In Anchorage With High-Level Delegation
The Ilyushin Il-96, registered RA-96023, departed Moscow Vnukovo Airport at 07:50 local time on Thursday, August 14, and was operated by the Special Flight Unit “Rossiya,” which is responsible for Russian government transport. Data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft landed at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage around 06:41 local time.
According to Russian media reports, the delegation traveling to Alaska for the talks is expected to include President Vladimir Putin, along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
The meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson will be the first in-person encounter between US President Donald Trump and President Putin since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine and will focus on ending the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with other topics considered secondary.
Two Additional Russian Government Il-96s En Route To Anchorage
Furthermore, according to Flightradar24, two additional Russian government Ilyushin Il-96-300s are also bound for Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. The first, registered RA-96019 and operating as flight RSD171, departed Moscow Vnukovo Airport at 16:24 local time and is scheduled to arrive in Anchorage at 14:51 local time. The second, registered RA-96018 and operating as flight RSD308, departed at 17:28 local time and is expected to land at 15:55 local time.
The Il-96 has been in service since the early 1990s and remains a key part of Russia’s VIP and presidential travel program. The type was developed from the Il-86, and was fitted with more efficient engines, a modern flight deck, and aerodynamic improvements such as winglets. It was originally built to compete with Airbus and Boeing’s long-range aircraft but never achieved commercial success.
That being said, it found a lasting role in government and VIP transport. The Russian presidential unit is the Il-96-300PU, which is a highly customized “Command Center” variant. This version features extended range, secure communications systems, and an interior fitted with private offices, meeting rooms, dining areas, and medical facilities. The aircraft also incorporates advanced defensive systems. Data from Planespotters.net shows that around 11 Il-96s are currently in active service with Rossiya Special Flight Squadron.
Cubana Remains The Only Commercial Il-96 Operator In 2025
Other than the Russian government, the primary operators of the Il-96-300 have been Aeroflot and Cuban flag carrier Cubana. The former was the launch operator but retired the type in 2014. It mainly deployed the aircraft on long domestic sectors, such as the 4,203-mile route between Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (PKC) in the Russian Far East.
Cubana, on the other hand, introduced the Il-96 in January 2006 and eventually took delivery of three aircraft, which were configured with 18 business class and 244 economy class seats. From its José Martí International Airport (HAV) hub in Havana, Cubana has operated the Il-96 on various long-haul routes over the years, including Madrid (MAD), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).
