UNICORN PRIVATE Sanctions and export control fines in aerospace and defence
In short
Published cases on this page: 2. Authorities: 2. Years: 2024 to 2026.
In the United States (OFAC, BIS) and in the United Kingdom (OFSI, since 15 June 2022) civil liability is strict: a company can be fined even if it did not know that the counterparty was sanctioned.
Amounts are shown in the currency of the decision and are never converted.
Good to know
- Airbus Operations Limited concerns export control record keeping under its licences, not sanctions.
Cases
Cases shown: 2 of 2
| Sector | What happened | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus Operations LimitedCompound settlement for export control breaches (not sanctions) | United Kingdom | Aerospace and defence | HMRC | £6,409,388 | The company repeatedly failed to keep the required records of transfers of controlled technology under its export licences. Official source verified on November 13, 2026 | |
| SkyGeek Logistics, Inc.Civil enforcement action (penalty or settlement) | United States | Aerospace and defence | OFAC (US Treasury) | $22,172 | The company sent four shipments of aviation products to two UAE companies sanctioned for supporting Russia's aerospace sector. Official source verified on November 13, 2026 |
Select a column heading to sort the table. Amounts are shown in the currency of the decision and are never converted.
Totals by year and by authority
Sums of the amounts imposed on companies in this list, by currency, never converted. Not included: breaches published without a fine, anti money laundering penalties, confiscations and amounts imposed on individuals. A total marked about or more than includes an amount that the source gives as approximate or as a minimum.
By year
| Year | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | £6,409,388 |
| 2024 | 1 | $22,172 |
By authority
| Authority | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC | 1 | £6,409,388 |
| OFAC (US Treasury) | 1 | $22,172 |
Frequently asked questions
Have companies in this sector been fined for sanctions violations?
This page lists 2 published cases. The largest amounts are: Airbus Operations Limited (HMRC, Compound settlement for export control breaches (not sanctions), July 30, 2026): £6,409,388; SkyGeek Logistics, Inc. (OFAC (US Treasury), December 31, 2024): $22,172. Airbus Operations Limited concerns export control record keeping under its licences, not sanctions.
Can a company be fined without knowing that the counterparty was sanctioned?
In the United States and in the United Kingdom, yes, for civil penalties. OFAC states that a US person may be held civilly liable even without having knowledge or reason to know of the violation; BIS civil liability is also strict; since 15 June 2022 OFSI no longer has to prove that a person knew or had reasonable cause to suspect. In the EU the directive requires intent, and serious negligence is enough for military and dual-use goods. In Canada a wilful violation is required. Example from this list: Pegasus Worldwide Logistics (OFAC, 9 October 2026) arranged a shipment of equipment from a sanctioned Chinese supplier without noticing, because of gaps in its checks.
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List not exhaustive, based on public official sources. Date of the last verification: November 13, 2026.
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