Large Aircraft Touches Down at Leipzig Airport
The Antonov An-124, a colossal civilian cargo plane, made a historic return to the skies on July 11, 2022, after being grounded in Ukraine since the start of the war. This remarkable event was confirmed by unverified photos, videos, and flight tracking services.
The An-124, with registration UR-82073, was flown from Ukraine to Leipzig Airport, Germany. The landing at Leipzig Airport was noteworthy, given the aircraft's prolonged grounding in Ukraine.
The Antonov An-124, standing at 20 meters high with a wingspan of 73 meters, can carry up to 120 tons at once. This aircraft, along with the world's largest plane, the Antonov An-225, was based at Hostomel Airport in Kyiv. However, the An-225 was heavily damaged during the Russian invasion.
UR-82073 was undergoing maintenance at Sviatoshyn Airfield, a location that remained largely undamaged during the conflict. The aircraft's delayed return to operational status was due to it being disassembled during overhaul when the invasion began, and it remained inactive on the ground for over three years.
Antonov Airlines, a company specialising in the transport of heavy and oversized cargo, serving various industries through charter services, relocated the aircraft to Leipzig Airport, where it can be returned to service safely. The company has been operating from Leipzig/Halle Airport since moving its operations from Ukraine.
The flight of UR-82073 through Ukraine's highly restricted airspace was an "extraction flight," as the country's airspace has been closed to civilian flights since February 2022, only allowing military, government, and special humanitarian flights under strict control.
The landing of UR-82073 in Leipzig was greeted with a water salute, a tradition to celebrate the arrival of a significant aircraft. Aviation portals "Aero Time" and "Aero Telegraph" are excited about the flight, praising the achievement of Antonov staff in getting the An-124 back in the air.
With the arrival of UR-82073, there are now six An-124 civilian models at Leipzig Airport, with five previously being in operation. This marks a new chapter in aviation history and a significant step in restoring Antonov Airlines’ cargo capabilities by rescuing and recommissioning an important An-124 airlifter from wartime impoundment to active use outside Ukraine.
However, the purpose of the flight remains unclear. Antonov Airlines has not issued a public statement about the operation. A Flightradar24 follower praised the achievement, expressing hope that the return of the An-124 to service will help in the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Ukraine.
The relocation of UR-82073, an An-124 aircraft, from Ukraine to Leipzig Airport, Germany, implies potential future collaborations between Antonov Airlines and the German finance industry, as the company is now operating from Leipzig/Halle Airport.
The return of UR-82073 to service signifies a significant advancement in the aerospace industry, given its historical grounding, and potential implications for technology-intensive industries that utilize heavy cargo transport services.
