Military Transport Plane An-22 Breaks Apart Mid-Air Before Crashing Into Reservoir

The crash of a Russian An-22 "Antey” military transport aircraft, which occurred on December 9 in the Ivanovo region, has been captured on video and circulated online. The footage was published by the Military Informant Telegram channel.

The video shows the aircraft beginning to disintegrate while still in the air, moments before it plunged into the water. Several fragments can be seen separating from the fuselage as the plane rapidly loses structural integrity.

Mid-Air Breakup Captured on Video

According to the footage, the An-22 began to break apart at altitude, suggesting a catastrophic structural failure before impact. The aircraft did not descend as a single unit; instead, its destruction unfolded mid-flight, leaving little chance for recovery.

The video clearly shows the aircraft coming apart in the air before falling into the water.

The incident highlights the extreme severity of the malfunction that occurred during the flight, as the crew had no opportunity to regain control once the disintegration began.

Crash Site and Recovery Details

The An-22 "Antey” crashed on December 9 in the area of the Uvod Reservoir in the Ivanovo region. The wreckage was located approximately 150 meters from the shoreline at a depth of around five meters.

Emergency services and recovery teams were dispatched to the site shortly after the crash. Due to the location of the wreckage in shallow water, search and retrieval operations were able to confirm the aircraft's position relatively quickly.

Fatalities and Crew Information

All eight people on board the military transport aircraft were killed in the crash. The commander of the aircraft was Major Sergey Shmakov, aged 52.

The An-22 "Antey” is one of the largest turboprop military transport aircraft ever built and has long been used for heavy logistical missions. The loss of both the aircraft and its crew marks one of the most serious aviation incidents involving this model in recent years.

An investigation into the causes of the crash is ongoing. Officials are expected to examine possible technical failures, maintenance issues, and operational factors that may have led to the mid-air breakup of the aircraft.