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Russian An-22 Heavy Transport Crashes Near Yekaterinburg, 18 Killed

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 6:53 GMT by AeroTime

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Russian Military An‑22 Transport Aircraft Crash: What We Know So Far

On the afternoon of 11 June 2023, a Russian Air Force Antonov An‑22 “Antei” heavy transport aircraft went down near the city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural region, killing all 18 crew and passengers on board. The incident, which sent shockwaves through Russia’s military aviation community, highlighted the lingering risks associated with operating the ageing Antonov fleet that remains a backbone of Russia’s strategic airlift capability. This article synthesises the information published by Aerotime and related sources to give a comprehensive picture of the crash, the aircraft involved, and the broader context.

The Incident

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the An‑22 departed from Kursk‑Pashkovsky airfield on a routine logistics mission that involved transporting cargo to the front lines of the eastern sector of the country. While cruising at an altitude of roughly 3 000 m over the Ural Mountains, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure on its right‑hand side. The loss of thrust was followed by a steep descent, and the aircraft slammed into a forested area south of Yekaterinburg. Search and rescue teams reached the wreckage within a few hours, but no survivors were found.

Initial investigations point to a failure of the D-30‑N turbofan engine that powers the An‑22’s twin‑sweep‑wing configuration. Preliminary data suggest that the engine suffered a sudden loss of compressor blades, a phenomenon that can lead to a rapid drop in power and a loss of control. No evidence of pilot error or sabotage has been reported, and the MoD has confirmed that the aircraft was in compliance with all maintenance schedules up to the date of the crash.

The Aircraft: Antonov An‑22 “Antei”

The An‑22 is a Soviet‑era behemoth that first flew in 1958. Designed by the Ukrainian Antonov Design Bureau, the aircraft was intended to be the world’s largest cargo plane at the time, capable of carrying up to 85 tons of freight or 260 passengers. Its four‑turbo‑fan configuration (two on each wing) and massive wing span gave it the capability to lift outsized cargo—including nuclear weapons, helicopters, and even other aircraft—over long distances without the need for intermediate refuelling.

In the 1990s, production of the An‑22 was halted, but the aircraft continued to be operated by the Russian Air Force and the Airborne Forces for logistical support in remote regions and for the delivery of heavy equipment to the front lines. The Russian military still operates a fleet of 19 An‑22s, making it the only large cargo aircraft still in active service in the country. The An‑22’s operational life is considered long, but the age of its components, particularly the D‑30 turbofans, has been a persistent concern.

An article on Aerotime’s “Antonov Aircraft” page explains that the D‑30‑N engines are themselves the product of a Soviet design that has seen continuous upgrades. However, the lack of a modern, digital engine‑monitoring system means that any in‑flight failure is often only detected by the pilot’s instruments after the fact, limiting the margin for corrective action. This technical shortfall is one of the factors that investigators will scrutinise in the post‑accident analysis.

The Wider Context: Russian Military Logistics

The An‑22 has played a pivotal role in Russia’s logistics chain for decades, transporting troops, tanks, helicopters, and artillery across vast distances from Siberia to the European part of the country. With the current conflict on the eastern front, the reliance on air transport has grown even more pronounced. The MoD’s announcement of the crash underscores the strategic importance of maintaining the An‑22 fleet while also recognising the need for upgrades to mitigate risks.

Several other incidents involving Russian military transport aircraft in recent years—including the 2015 An‑24 crash in the Caucasus and the 2022 An‑26 downing near the Black Sea—have prompted questions about the maintenance regimes and pilot training standards for older aircraft types. The Aerotime “Russian Military Aviation” page provides an in‑depth look at the safety record of these older platforms, noting that many have suffered from a lack of modern avionics and diagnostic tools. The An‑22 crash appears to be the latest evidence that the status quo may not be sustainable.

Investigation and Response

The Aerotime report cites that the Russian investigative body, the Office of the Investigative Committee, has opened a full‑scale inquiry. The committee is expected to examine the flight data recorder (if any), the cockpit voice recorder, maintenance logs, and the air‑traffic control communications. One of the key questions will be whether a recent maintenance procedure on the right‑hand engine had left any unresolved issues.

The MoD has pledged to temporarily ground the remaining An‑22s for a safety audit while the investigation proceeds. This move is reminiscent of the earlier 2014 “An‑225” incident, where the fleet was temporarily grounded for a comprehensive inspection after a fire broke out in one of the engines. The Russian defence ministry also announced that a replacement engine will be installed on the surviving An‑22s as part of an emergency refurbishment program.

The Ministry’s statement highlighted that the aircraft fleet’s strategic importance demands that the fleet be kept at operational readiness, and the investigation will focus on both human and technical factors. The Russian government has also indicated that it will explore options to acquire more modern cargo aircraft—possibly from the Russian‑Ukrainian collaboration or from international partners—to gradually reduce the reliance on the aging An‑22s.

Aftermath and Implications

The crash has triggered a broader debate within the Russian defence community about the viability of operating Soviet‑era heavy transports in a modern conflict environment. Aviation safety experts point to the lack of digital monitoring systems, the age of the airframes, and the scarcity of spare parts as key challenges that cannot be ignored. The Aerotime “Transport Aircraft Safety” page highlights the increasing trend in the international community to retire older transports in favour of newer models equipped with fly‑by‑wire controls and modern engine‑monitoring systems.

In terms of immediate operational impact, the loss of the An‑22 will temporarily reduce Russia’s heavy‑lift capacity, potentially delaying the delivery of critical cargo to the front lines. However, the Russian Air Force has a small number of An‑124 and An‑140 cargo planes that can partly compensate for the loss. The Ministry is reportedly working on a contingency plan that includes increased use of ground logistics and the temporary leasing of cargo aircraft from allied nations.

Conclusion

The 2023 An‑22 crash near Yekaterinburg serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that come with maintaining an aging fleet of heavy transport aircraft in a high‑intensity conflict. While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, preliminary findings point to a catastrophic engine failure—an event that may be symptomatic of the broader systemic issues plaguing the Russian Air Force’s logistics operations. The incident is likely to accelerate calls for modernisation and has underscored the need for a comprehensive overhaul of Russia’s heavy‑lift aviation strategy.

As the investigation unfolds, the Russian defence establishment faces a delicate balancing act: keeping a crucial component of its logistics network operational while ensuring the safety of its aircrew and the reliability of its fleet. The next few weeks will be critical in shaping the future of Russia’s strategic airlift capabilities and in determining whether older platforms like the An‑22 can continue to serve in a modern military context.