Report: Antonov Official Fired after Destruction of World’s Largest Cargo Airplane

The general director of Antonov—the Ukrainian company that owned the recently destroyed An-225 Mriya—has apparently been fired, according to a statement posted by state-owned defense manufacturer, Ukroboronprom.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 04:08 PM ET

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For more than three decades the An-225 Mriya reigned as the largest airplane in the world. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The general director of Antonov, Serhiy Bychkov, has been fired or suspended due to an official investigation.
This investigation relates to the destruction of the An-225 Mriya, the world's largest cargo plane, during the Russian invasion.
Media reports suggest NATO had warned Antonov in January to move the Mriya to safety, but it remained at Gostomel Airport due to needed repairs.
The An-225 Mriya, a symbol of Ukrainian industrial prowess, was subsequently destroyed in February during intense fighting.

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The one-of-a-kind Antonov An-225 was destroyed in February during intense fighting between Ukrainians and invading Russian forces north of Kyiv at Gostomel Airport (UKKM), where the world’s largest cargo airplane was based.