BREAKING: A massive Russian An-22 military transport plane has crashed today in the Ivanovo region, northeast of Moscow, with seven people aboard—all presumed dead. Fragments of the Soviet-era aircraft have been spotted floating in the Uvod Reservoir, prompting immediate emergency responses from local authorities.
Witnesses reported seeing debris scattered both in the water and on surrounding land. The An-22 was conducting a scheduled test flight following repairs when it went down. The aircraft, known by NATO as “Cock,” was first flown in 1965 and was the last operational plane of its type in the Russian Armed Forces, despite being set for retirement last year.
Emergency services are on-site, searching for any survivors, but reports indicate that all seven onboard—comprising five crew members and two passengers—are presumed dead. “The crew did their best to steer the aircraft away from populated areas until the last moment,” Mash news reported, noting that the plane fell in an uninhabited area.
The An-22 measures 187 feet in length with a wingspan of 210 feet and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 80 tonnes. “The An-22 broke apart into pieces,” Shot news added, highlighting the catastrophic nature of the incident.
The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed that a commission from the Aerospace Forces has been dispatched to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. As emergency crews continue to work at the scene, the cause of this tragic incident remains unknown.
This developing story underscores the risks associated with aging military aircraft and raises concerns about safety protocols in the Russian military. As updates emerge, the fate of the crew and the investigation’s findings will be closely monitored.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest developments on this urgent situation.