An-22 military plane crashes in Ivanovo after maintenance test and kills seven Russian crew

An An-22 military transport plane crashed in the region of Ivanovo, in Rússia, during a test flight after repairs, Russian Ministério confirmed. The aircraft, known as Antey, was carrying seven crew and crashed in an uninhabited area near the Uvod reservoir, about 260 km northeast of Moscou. The incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at around 10 am local time, amid stable weather conditions, according to initial reports. Equipes rescue services were immediately sent to the scene, but authorities indicate that all seven occupants died.

The An-22 was carrying out a planned flyby to check its operation after extensive maintenance. Fragmentos of the fuselage were located in water, with a depth of approximately five meters, 150 meters from the bank. Ministério of Defesa did not disclose preliminary causes, but sources point to possible structural failure during the flight.

Circumstances of the accident

The test flight began without apparent irregularities, in accordance with the Russian Forças Aeroespaciais schedule. The aircraft took off from a nearby base and followed a standard route over rural areas. Testemunhas reported that the plane began to disintegrate in the air, scattering debris over a radius of hundreds of meters.

Local authorities have cordoned off the perimeter around the Uvod reservoir to facilitate recovery operations. Mergulhadores were mobilized to extract submerged parts, including engines and tail sections. The moderate depth of the site helped in quickly locating the main fragments.

The incident did not affect civil air traffic in the region, but led to the temporary suspension of similar tests on older aircraft. Investigadores of the federal commission has already started analyzing telemetry and voice recordings from the cockpit.

An-22 History

The An-22 Antey entered service in 1967, designed by the Antonov to carry heavy loads on unprepared runways. With a wingspan of 64 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 225 tons, it carried up to 80 tons of cargo. Essa capability made it essential for Soviet logistics missions during Guerra Fria.

The aircraft used four Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop engines, each with a power of 15 thousand horsepower. Sua cargo cabin was 33 meters long, allowing the transport of armored vehicles or helicopters. Mais of 60 units were produced until 1993, but few remain operational.

In 2025, the first An-22 completed 60 years since its maiden flight on February 28, 1965. Apesar was obsolete, it was kept in service due to a shortage of medium transports in Russian forces.

Detailed technical specifications

• Dimensions: Comprimento of 57.9 meters, height of 12.5 meters and wing area of ​​267 square meters.
• Performance: Velocidade maximum speed of 740 km/h and range of 5 thousand km with a full charge.
• Capacity: Até 29 passengers or 60 tons of freight, with hydraulic rear ramp for quick loading.
• Crew: Normalmente five members, plus two on test missions.

These attributes highlighted the An-22 as a pioneer in heavy transport aviation. Ele surpassed Western competitors in cargo volume, but required rigorous maintenance due to its advanced age.

The model influenced later designs such as the An-124, which took on similar roles with greater efficiency. However, the An-22 maintained an advantage on short and irregular runways, with the ability to land on compacted earth surfaces.

Recent military operations

The Russian Forças Aeroespaciais used the An-22 in logistics exercises on the Ártico in November 2025. Dois aircraft transported supplies to remote bases, demonstrating viability in extreme conditions. Essa mission took place two weeks before the accident, with no reports of failures.

The active fleet shrank to less than ten units in 2024, following deactivations due to obsolescence. The crashed plane was the last in full operation, according to internal sources. Manutenções, such as the one carried out, aimed to extend its useful life by up to five years.

In conflict contexts, the An-22 supported ammunition deliveries in difficult-to-access areas. Registros show 1,200 flight hours accumulated by the aircraft in 2025, with mandatory weekly inspections.

Comparison with other transport

The An-22 differed from the Il-76 in its turboprop propulsion, which offered superior torque in short takeoffs. Enquanto the Il-76 uses jets, limiting it to paved runways, the Antey operated from improvised airfields. Essa flexibility justified its retention, despite high fuel consumption.

Successors like the An-124 increase the payload to 150 tons, but require advanced infrastructure. The An-22, with 30% lower operating costs in short missions, filled gaps in undersized fleets. Dados of 2024 indicate that Russian heavy transports flew 15% more hours than expected, stretching resources.

The transition to modern models is progressing slowly, with production of the modernized Il-76M in 2025. However, the An-22 remained vital for training, accumulating 500 annual missions until the incident.

Maintenance and safety protocols

Repairs to the An-22 involve partial disassembly of the fuselage and hydraulic testing on the ground. The procedure lasts 45 days and includes an ultrasound check for metal fatigue. Equipes certified carry out 200 hours of simulations before the initial flight.

Russian protocols require radar monitoring in tests, with ground teams ready to intervene. In the case of Ivanovo, recordings captured the emergency signal at 10:15 am local time. Investigadores prioritize analysis of black boxes recovered from water.

Similar accidents, such as the crash of an An-24 in July 2025, have led to audits of aging fleets. Recomendações include avionics upgrades, implemented on 70% of the remaining An-22s.

Implications for the air fleet

The loss worsens the lack of medium transport in Russian forces, with only 120 aircraft available in 2025. Substituições depend on paused Ukrainian imports, forcing prolonged use of models from the 1960s.

The incident could accelerate deactivations, redirecting resources to modernized Il-76. Treinamentos logistics continue with alternative aircraft, but with a 20% reduction in heavy capacity. Autoridades plan preliminary report in 72 hours.

Experts highlight the importance of diversification, with tests on cargo drones for risky missions. Essa approach mitigates dependence on aging equipment in future operations.