Pilot Of World’s Largest Cargo Plane Bids Farewell to Aircraft Destroyed by Russian Forces

Dmytro Antonov served as the captain of the world’s largest cargo plane, the AN-225 "Mriya.” His role ended when Russian forces destroyed the iconic plane shortly after invading Ukraine. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.

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[Anarchy_]

Shows how f'd up they are to destroy such an amazing aircraft for no military strategic reason, they could have captured it without destroying, this is savagery!

[mongrelrat]

I strongly hope they''ll build another plane like "Mriya”. But they shouldn't give it the same name. There was and will be only one "Mriya" in history.

[jcarey]

Please rebuild her!!!! She's become a symbol to so many aviation enthusiasts around the world

[les]

Very sad for Dmytro Antonov to look at his beautiful Mriya. Never mind Captain, you have some wonderful memories.

[christophergrimes]

I wish I could have seen Mriya in person and that would be a dream come true for me

[pb]

Russia should pay, turn the oil n gas taps off

[sooz]

Such a Majestic Aircraft... what they did to Mriya is criminal!

[checkeredflagfilms]

I believe they had the opportunity to fly out of the area for safe keeping but the director fled the country. So someone is definitely responsible for not taking action and allowing it to stay hangered and vulnerable to russian attack.

[ingridthurston-polkey]

Just show you how lovely the Ukraine 🇺🇦 people are keep on fitting we are all with you god bless all of you brave brave people of Ukraine 🇺🇦✌️✌️✌️👍🙏🙏🫡🇫🇮🇬🇧sending prayers and the lord bless you 🙏🙏🙏x service man 🙏✌️🇺🇦🇫🇮🇸🇪🇬🇧

[princemeleth]

This was not a Ukrainian plane, this was from soviet era plane

[NatureXwars]

It was a commercial cargo plane not part of the Ukrainian army...

[kennethroy]

Who knows maybe they can use good parts and build another for you

[mickobrien]

The Russians couldn't even destroy something well. Luckily they left 3 of the plane's jet engines in what appears to be perfect condition. Each of those jet engines is $5 to $10 million... So that's something that can be used somewhere else.

[timbrwolf]

It was not destroyed BY russian forces. At least not directly. Per an interview with a captured russian soldier. The last survivor of the initial attack on hostomel. They had dug in near and parked vehicles in front of the Mriya and Ukrainian artillery began hitting their positions. One or more of these rounds inadvertently struck the Mriya. It was unfortunately friendly fire due to the proximity of russian forces.