The destruction of the world's largest aircraft, the Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya, at the start of the Russian invasion has criminal consequences for the former management of the Antonov concern. The only airworthy example of this oversized transporter was burned on February 27th when Russian paratroopers attacked the Hostomel airfield near Kyiv.

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the SBU secret service are investigating why the plane was not brought to safety in time despite warnings. This was reported by Ukrainian media in Kyiv on Thursday. Legally, this is considered a violation of official duties or even collaboration with a foreign military power. No information was given about the accused.

An-225 chief pilot Dmytro Antonov said the crew intended to fly the plane out in the dramatic morning hours of February 24 when the attacks began. The machine could have flown to Leipzig, where it had a permanent location. The engines had been started, but the start order had not come. The fighting around Hostomel lasted several days, until Ukrainian troops routed the invading paratroopers.

Because the plane was not rescued, the general director of the state aircraft construction group Antonov, Serhiy Bychkov, was fired at the end of March. The six-engine cargo plane was the pride of Ukraine and a much-admired guest at many airports around the world.

It had a wing span of 88.4 meters. The maximum take-off weight was 640 tons - about half that of a fully loaded jumbo jet (Boeing B747) with 447 tons.

Also read:

- Antonov An-225: The only example of the world's largest cargo plane destroyed

- "Everything was gigantic" - how a photographer experienced his flight with the Antonov An-225

- An-124: Why the Antonovs are so important for NATO and the US economy