Newly surfaced surveillance footage shows a Russian Antonov An-22 military transport aircraft breaking apart mid-air before crashing during a test flight in Ivanovo Oblast on December 9, 2025.

According to Russian emergency and aviation authorities, the aircraft was conducting a post-maintenance test flight when it suffered a catastrophic failure. Video from the scene appears to show the fuselage separating while airborne before debris fell into a nearby reservoir.

All seven crew members aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. No injuries were reported on the ground.

The An-22, one of the world’s largest turboprop transport aircraft, has been in Russian service for decades and is primarily used for heavy military and logistical transport. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the mid-air breakup.

Russian investigators say a formal inquiry is underway to determine whether mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or other technical factors contributed to the crash. Authorities have not released details about the aircraft’s maintenance history or whether similar aircraft will be grounded pending the investigation.

The incident marks one of the most serious Russian military aviation accidents in recent years involving a legacy transport platform.