Russia’s largest turboprop military transport aircraft, the An-22 Antey, crashed during a test flight conducted after maintenance, leading to a major disaster. Officials announced that all seven people on board — five crew members and two passengers — lost their lives.
According to information published in the Russian media, the An-22, which has been in service since the Soviet era and is known as the largest turboprop aircraft in aviation history, is believed to have suddenly broken apart mid-air due to a technical malfunction. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft’s fuselage scattered over the Uvodskoye Reservoir near the village of Ivankovo.
The Aircraft Had Been in Service for Over 50 Years
According to Kommersant, the aircraft had recently undergone routine maintenance. It was stated that this aircraft, the last An-22 still in service in Russia, was the final representative of the series planned to be officially retired in 2024.
Ministry of Defence Launches Investigation
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that they had established a comprehensive commission regarding the accident. While military prosecution units conducted examinations at the crash site, maintenance and operational records of the aircraft were seized. In addition, fuel samples and technical components were sent for laboratory analysis.
Divers Search for Wreckage and Black Box
Since the crash site is a water reservoir, dive teams have begun efforts to recover both the flight recorders and the bodies of the victims.
The World’s Largest Turboprop Aircraft
The An-22 Antey is known as the world’s largest military transport aircraft powered by turboprop engines. Its powerful engine structure and high carrying capacity enabled it to undertake critical heavy-lift missions for the Russian military for many years.
