On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, a Russian military transport plane crashed during a test flight east of Moscow, killing all crew members on board. The Antonov An-22 aircraft went down near the village of Ivankovo in the Ivanovo region, approximately 200 kilometers from the capital. Russian state media reported that seven people were on the aircraft.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the flight was a post-repair test when the crash occurred in an uninhabited area. Search crews were deployed to the site. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, focusing on potential violations of flight preparation rules. Early reports from the Kommersant business daily, citing anonymous sources, indicate that a technical malfunction is believed to be the cause.
The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-22 "Antei," a massive, Soviet-era turboprop transport plane first designed in the 1960s. It was once the world's largest turboprop aircraft and has been used for decades for heavy logistics, capable of carrying oversized military equipment. Notably, the plane was reportedly slated for retirement. In 2024, a Russian general stated the An-22 would be withdrawn from active service, and there were unconfirmed reports last year that the fleet had been permanently grounded.
The crash highlights the challenges of maintaining an aging military fleet. The An-22 that crashed was over 50 years old, and the Russian military has been forced to extend the service life of many Soviet-era platforms. Analysts note that the strain of the war in Ukraine has increased reliance on such older equipment, as Russia faces difficulties in manufacturing new replacements at scale. Officials stated there was no suggestion the crash was connected to the conflict in Ukraine or any involvement by Kyiv.
Accidents involving military transport aircraft have occurred with some frequency in Russia in recent years. This incident results in the loss of a unique heavy-lift capability for the Russian Aerospace Forces, potentially leaving a gap in its ability to transport outsized cargo.