Photo: FL360aero
A fire broke out on a Ukrainian Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan cargo aircraft operated by Antonov Airlines at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan on October 22, aviation resource FL360aero reported.
The runway was closed for 15 minutes following the incident. After an inspection, the airport resumed normal flight operations.
It remains unclear whether the aircraft was damaged or anyone was injured. Authorities have not disclosed the cargo on board or the cause of the fire.
The An-124 Ruslan, developed by Kyiv-based Antonov Design Bureau, is one of the world's largest cargo aircraft.
This is not the first incident involving an Antonov Airlines Ruslan abroad. On the night of August 5, a drone carrying explosives and a detonator was discovered near an An-124 at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. Media reports said the aircraft was loaded with ammunition. The device did not detonate, and US intelligence linked the suspected sabotage attempt to Russian military intelligence.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an escalation of sabotage operations against NATO countries, raising concerns that the alliance could face further attacks similar to the Leipzig incident. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also warned about the Kremlin's plans for Ukraine and Europe.
