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Russia’s Last Operational An-22 Crashes During Test Flight, Killing Seven

A criminal inquiry is underway into the post-repair test flight that ended with the aircraft breaking apart over Ivanovo.

Overview

  • The Antonov An-22 went down near the Uvodskoye reservoir in the Ivanovo region, with authorities reporting no damage or casualties on the ground.
  • Witnesses cited by state media said the turboprop began to disintegrate in mid-air shortly before impact.
  • All seven aboard—five crew members and two passengers—were found dead, and recovery teams retrieved the bodies from the site.
  • Russian officials said the aircraft was flying a test mission after recent repairs, and commissions from the Aerospace Forces and emergency services were dispatched.
  • Investigators opened a criminal case to examine possible violations of flight-preparation rules, with early reporting pointing to a technical failure linked to the aging airframe, though no cause has been confirmed.