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 largest 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.
Russian authorities are expected to open an investigation into the incident, but further details remained scarce at the time of writing.