Update: 04 March 202
Some horrific damaged photos of An-225 have been surfaced around confirming the aircraft has been destroyed.
Antonov An-225 Mriya Destroyed
Antonov An-225, the biggest plane in the world was destroyed by Russian troops in the second air attack on the Hostomel (Gostomel) airport near Kyiv. The aircraft was burnt in the Russian attack.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has confirmed on his Twitter account below:
Antonov Company mentioned on a tweet that they could not confirm the technical conditions of the aircraft.
The An-225 Mriya was originally built to transport the Soviet space shuttle, Buran.
According to Wikipedia, as an oversized aircraft, the Antonov An-225 Mriya held multiple records which included; heaviest aircraft ever built, and largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service.
Other records held by the An-225 were cargo related in terms of weight and length as the Antonov An-225 had the capability to carry up to 640 tonnes (705 short tons). The An-225 attracted a high degree of public interest, so much that it had managed to attain a global following due to its size and its uniqueness.
We pay tribute to An-225 Mriya in the video below:
Records Held by An-225 Mriya (Source Wikipedia)
The airlifter holds the absolute world record for an airlifted single-item payload of 189,980 kg (418,830 lb),and an airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg (559,580 lb). It also transported a payload of 247,000 kg (545,000 lb) on a commercial flight.
On 11 September 2001, carrying four main battle tanks at a record load of 253.82 tonnes (279.79 short tons) of cargo, the An-225 flew at an altitude of up to 10,750 m (35,270 ft) over a closed circuit of 1,000 km (620 mi) at a speed of 763.2 km/h (474.2 mph).
On 11 August 2009, the heaviest single cargo item ever sent by air freight was loaded onto the An-225. At 16.23 m (53 ft 3 in) long and 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in) wide, its consignment, a generator for a gas power plant in Armenia along with its loading frame, weighed in at a record 189 tonnes (417,000 lb).
On 11 June 2010, the An-225 carried the world’s longest piece of air cargo, two 42.1 m (138 ft) test wind turbine blades from Tianjin, China, to Skrydstrup, Denmark.
Does anyone know the status of Ukraine’s AN-22 cargo plane? Wasn’t it at Hostumel, also?
Unconfirmed report has mentioned it is also destroyed but there is no confirmation on it.
Thanks Sam for your videos as well as the ones we get from the Smithsonian Channel.
So worried about the Antonov crew and the parts etc that they carry in order to have kept the aircraft going.
it seems now that we have lost one of the best flying ladies. But if she has to go then it should be in the story of something bigger and that is clearly what is happening now.
Pray for human flight and the ideas about how we go forward as part of the human race!
Looks like a Ukraine civilian (Antonov Airlines) AN-22 was lost if the images being circulated of a tail/stabilizer with the Ukraine national emblem are recent. To the best of my knowledge, there are AN-22 in use in Ukraine. (UR-64460 and UR-09307) Tail section photos only give up that it is a Ukraine aircraft, no hull numbers visible.
Thanks for this info. I managed to fly on An-22 (UR-09307) in 2020.
So why did nobody move the plane out of the way? Even with an engine down (or so I heard) I bet it could still fly/limp somewhere else for the time being.
So sad. I was hoping this aircraft would have been spared. Hope a new-upgraded version can be built with the help of foreign investors/companies if needed. This aircraft was an invaluable part of history. A product of what nations can achieve together if they unite and not fight (Russia-Ukraine).
Sam, we here in Bangor, Maine are going to miss the Antonov AN- 225. She used to come through Bangor International Airport from time to time. I loved the pieces you have done on your YouTube channel about her. She will be sorely missed throughout the Aviation World.
Appreciate your comment. Thanks Bradford.
What an appaling global disaster. That incredible AN225 was the only example in the world, and has a strong cult following, globally. Every time it took off, it seemed to push the earth gently out of the way. I am totally grief stricken. Feels like a death in my own family. Putin….. you crazy despot….. why did you have to destroy this Ukranian treasure? Why did you have to nefariously destroy it’s hanger?? And you recklessly threaten to also nuke the rest of the world?? The world despises your outrageous behaviour, and the sooner you are impeached from office, the safer the world will be….. mainland Russia included.
I cannot agree more Graham. My heart goes out to everyone in the Ukraine, but somehow it feels like I knew the AN225. Been tracking it for 4 years in FlightAware hoping to catch a glimpse some day. I saw the AH-124-100 take off in Everett, WA and it blew my mind. The sound of its engines are etched in my brain.
Isn’t it more likely Ukraine destroyed the plane. Let’s not forget that each side uses propaganda. The Ukrainian government said Russia killed 13 border guards on snake island who said fu to Putin and it turns out they surrendered and are just fine. They said Ukrainian forces fought heavily with the Russians in the Chernobyl region and we have verified pictures of Russia soldiers and Ukrainian Chernobyl guards sitting side by side watching security cameras. Reuters verified that the Ukrainian defense ministry tweeted a video from a video game as a real thing.
It definitely is possible the Ukrainians destroyed the plane just like they accidentally hit a high rise building with an anti air missile.
The Ukrainian government has been completely negligent. They knew about the likelihood for hostilities for weeks yet only called up the reserves 24 hours after Russian entry. The Ukrainian government could have put this plane in the air on an emergency basis yet they didn’t. Maintenance
is no excuse. Anything can be rebuilt quickly if given the people. The plane can take off with 4 engines instead of 6 if there is no cargo and the fuel load is kept down.
Ah yes Ukraine destroyed their own 3 billion dollar plane, It’s not like that is literally fucking 15% of the entire country’s yearly budget.
Absolute genious
Just stop already. According to you the Ukraine waited on Putin so they could blow up their own plane that made them $30,000 per hour instead of just grounding it for good. Check the flight log and you’ll see how little sense you make. It wasn’t just a plane, it was a business.
We still don’t know what the condition is. Have faith it can be repaired, or the second of them completed.
Either way, Putin must pay for this. Every life lost on both sides is because of him.
Was it the only An 225 in the world?
Yes. There is a partially completed on in a hangar. Make the Russians pay to rebuild her.
Such a terrible loss as she was a Ukrainian icon. When she visited both EWR and PHL just after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, I was lucky enough to do a walk thru at both locations and even had my picture taken while occupying the captain’s seat. Yes, she was dispatched by the Russians so now the Ukrainians need to dispatch Putin. An eye for an eye.
I was fortunate to see the Antonov AN- 225 parked in a holding ramp at Las Vegas McCaren
Airport 20 plus years ago. The plane had the original Soviet era red stripe over a solid white
fuselage. There were actually two aircraft being constructed. Due to the collapse of the Soviet
Union there was only enough remaining parts and material to complete only one.
What an amazing accomplishment. We most likely never see this size aircraft for years
to come, if ever.
I managed to touch the plane at the 1989 Paris Air Show!
Wonder why they didn’t fly it out knowing what was coming and that it would be a high profile target?
I believe the plane was doing engine change/repair so it cannot leave with such short notice.
Piece of shit Russian putting robots!
They are destroying “things”..but they will not destroy the spirit of the Ukraine people!
And the world will not forget or forgive these barbarians for the pain & suffering putting has brought.
Get rid of putin..now
I’m thanking the exact same thing.
They could have used it for kamikaze on Kremlin. Why did they keep it on the ground?
Read the article! It was under repair, and thus couldn’t fly.