A Russian military transport aircraft crashed on Tuesday during a test flight in the Ivanovo region, about 200 kilometres east of Moscow. The AN-22 plane went down shortly after completing repair work and lifting off for evaluation. Officials confirmed that seven people were on board. Their condition remains unclear.
The defence ministry said the aircraft fell in an uninhabited area. Search teams moved to the crash zone within minutes and began ground sweeps. Emergency crews focused on locating survivors and securing the debris field. Investigators also opened a formal inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.
Local authorities reported no damage to nearby settlements. They added that residents did not face any safety risks. Early information suggests the crash had no link to the conflict in Ukraine. Officials also dismissed speculation of possible involvement by Kyiv.
The AN-22, known for its heavy-lift capability, has served Russia’s military for decades. Aviation specialists plan to review maintenance logs, weather data, and the aircraft’s final communications. They expect the investigation to take several weeks.
The crash raised new concerns about the reliability of ageing military aircraft in Russia’s fleet. Defence officials stated they would release updates once rescue teams confirm the status of the crew.
