A Russian military Antonov An-22 heavy transport aircraft has crashed in Russia, with no official confirmation yet on the fate of the crew.
According to Russian local media reports on December 9, 2025, the accident involved an An-22 operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The aircraft reportedly went down during a flight over Russian territory, although authorities have provided limited details on the precise circumstances of the crash.
Russian media outlet Mash reports that the accident killed everyone on board, namely five crew members and two passengers. As of publication, no official statement has been issued regarding casualties or the cause of the incident.
The An-22, first introduced into service in the 1960s, remains the heaviest turboprop-powered aircraft ever built and is a key asset within Russia’s military transport aviation fleet. Designed to move heavy and oversized cargo, the type is now considered legacy equipment, with only a small number believed to remain operational.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Antonov An-22 heavy transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region.
In a statement, the ministry said the aircraft was conducting a test flight following maintenance when the accident occurred.
“An An-22 military transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region during a test flight after repairs,” the statement said. “The aircraft went down in an uninhabited area.”
The Ministry of Defense did not immediately provide details on the number of crew members on board or their condition, nor did it disclose preliminary findings on the cause of the crash.
Investigative authorities are expected to examine whether technical issues related to post-repair testing played a role.