On October 22, 2026, an emergency incident occurred at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan when a Ukrainian An-124-100 Ruslan transport aircraft, operated by Antonov Airlines, caught fire. Due to the incident, the runway was temporarily closed for 15 minutes to carry out safety checks and address the situation.
Incident details and resumption of airport operations
Information about the fire and its handling emerged from the aviation resource FL360aero. Following prompt intervention by airport emergency services and necessary inspections, the airport resumed normal departures and arrivals. Official authorities have not yet provided detailed comments regarding the cause of the blaze.
At present, there is no precise information available regarding the extent of the aircraft's damage or whether any crew members or ground staff suffered injuries. The nature of the cargo being transported by the Ruslan aircraft also remains undisclosed.
Technical background of the An-124 Ruslan aircraft
The An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft is one of the largest serial production cargo planes in the world. The aircraft was designed and developed by the Antonov State Design Bureau based in Kyiv and is actively utilized worldwide for transporting oversized and heavy freight shipments.
Antonov Airlines operates commercial cargo flights using these unique aircraft on the global market, providing strategic logistics services across various regions, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Background and general security context
It is worth noting that this is not the first recent security incident involving Ukrainian heavy transport planes abroad. On the night of August 5, at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, an explosive device with a detonator attached to a drone was discovered near another Antonov Airlines An-124. According to media reports, the aircraft was carrying ammunition, and US intelligence linked the sabotage attempt to Russian military intelligence.
Western leaders and analysts have repeatedly pointed to an increased threat of sabotage against critical infrastructure within NATO member states. Specifically, The Wall Street Journal previously reported on stepped-up covert operations, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of long-term Kremlin plans targeting European security.
