A Russian military transport aircraft of the AN-22 series crashed in the Ivanovo region, east of Moscow, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, killing all seven people on board. The crash occurred during a test flight following recent repair work on the aircraft.
Russia's Investigative Committee and state media confirmed there were seven people (crew members and technicians/pilots) on board, and all were killed in the crash. The Defense Ministry later confirmed there were no survivors.
The plane was an Antonov An-22 (Antonov An-22A), a massive, four-engine turboprop aircraft, reportedly one of the last airworthy examples of the type in the Russian fleet. It crashed shortly after taking off from a military base near the village of Ivankovo in the Ivanovo region.
The plane went down in an uninhabited area, with debris falling into the Uvodskoye Reservoir. Authorities confirmed there was no risk of casualties outside the aircraft.
The aircraft was on a test flight following repairs due to engine problems. While the cause is officially under investigation by the Investigative Committee (probing potential violations of flight preparation rules), media outlets citing anonymous sources suggest the crash was likely caused by a technical malfunction, with some reports indicating the plane may have broken up in mid-air.
The An-22 is a Soviet-era aircraft that first flew in 1965. Its continued operation, despite previous plans for retirement, suggests the Russian Aerospace Forces' transport arm is under significant strain, relying on aging airframes to meet transport demands. Officials have not linked the incident to the conflict in Ukraine.
