New images from Ukraine show, without any doubt, the destruction of Mriya, the Antonov An-225 owned by Antonov Airlines. On April 1, the airline's chief pilot, Major Dmytro Antonov (Dmytro), returned to Hostomel Airport, also known as Antonov Airport, following the retreat of Russian troops on March 31.

Dmytro made a video of his return, which he described as "the Russian world has been here," and posted it on his YouTube channel.

Those of you who have watched the video will know that as Dmytro walks around the half burnt-out shell, he optimistically points out components here and there that may be salvageable.

He spots some blades on an engine, some landing gears, and even a tail section riddled with bullet holes and talks with a colleague in a way that suggests he thinks the aircraft will fly again.

Definite proof it is the Mriya AN-125 is here - no fake news

Almost forensically, he hunts for and finds the aircraft's identification plate. It seems he wants the world to know with 100% certainty that this is the famed Mriya An-225 he is filming. Footage of the aircraft has been previously circulated, but this is the first time the destruction of Antonov Airlines facilities and most of its aircraft has been seen.

When asked about the aircraft's fate when the first image was released, the airline stated on Twitter that

"Until the An-225 has been inspected by experts, we cannot report on the technical condition of the aircraft."

If the company is asked that question again, it may release the same statement, but it is difficult to view the aircraft as anything but a write-off. Apart from anything else, it's hard to see where the resources will come from to manufacture a new An-225 while Ukraine has so much else to focus on.

Getting the airline back and running using the aircraft currently outside the country will be a major undertaking. All of the offices and the documentation have been destroyed, most likely along with the vital aircraft maintenance records.

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What has Antonov Airlines got left?

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When the time comes, Antonov Airlines will be relying on the smaller An-124 to get its cargo operations going. Photo: Antonov Airlines

Today, FlightRadar24.com lists Antonov Airlines' fleet containing nine aircraft, two of which are An-124, and a mixture of seven parked aircraft. In early March, it showed 14 aircraft, and a search of flight activity shows it had ceased by March 12.

The Mriya was an iconic aircraft that drew a crowd wherever it went, much like Concorde and the Boeing B747 Jumbo were able to do. Its demise will sadden many avid aircraft lovers and leave a hole in global heavy-lift capacity.

For example, the An-225 has a payload of 275 tons compared to the An-124 with 150 tons and the Airbus Beluga XL at 56 tons.

Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr, has twelve Antonov A124 aircraft and five Ilyushin 11-76. Still, with current sanctions, they are shut out of the mainline cargo markets, adding more disruption to the heavy-lift sector.

One can never say never, but it seems we may have seen the last of the Mryia, which is Ukrainian for Dream, and the An-225, which like so much in Ukraine today, is beyond tragic.

Source: Dmytro Antonov