World's Largest Turboprop Antonov An-22 Aircraft Crash: No Survivors Left

A military transport aircraft An-22 crashed in the Ivanovo region, plunging into the Uvod reservoir near the village of Ivankovo in the Furmanovsky district. According to the outlet Shot, the crew managed to steer the aircraft away from residential buildings before impact, but the airframe disintegrated as it hit the water. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Игорь Бубин is licensed under GFDL 1.2

Antonov An-22 043481244, Kyiv - Antonov (Gostomel) RP92042

The Largest Turboprop in the World

The An-22, the world's largest turboprop military transport aircraft, was designed to carry heavy equipment and personnel across long distances. As reported by TASS, the aircraft was performing a routine post-repair inspection flight when it went down.

Seven Crew Members Feared Dead

Seven crew members were on board. A source familiar with the situation said rescuers believe the crew likely did not survive. Search teams have so far located only debris scattered across the water surface, while the pilots or their remains have not yet been found.

The last contact with the crew occurred at approximately 11:00 a. m., officials said.

Defense Ministry Confirms the Crash

"A military transport aircraft An-22 crashed in the Ivanovo region during a post-repair inspection flight. The aircraft fell in an uninhabited area,” — Ministry of Defense of Russia.

The ministry added that a search-and-rescue team and an investigative commission from Russia's Aerospace Forces have been dispatched to determine the causes of the crash and the fate of the crew.

Another Military Aircraft Lost in Ivanovo Last Year

In March 2024 the region experienced a similar tragedy when an Il-76 transport aircraft crashed, killing 16 people. That aircraft was also conducting a routine flight when a fire in one of its engines caused it to fall shortly after takeoff around 13:00 Moscow time.