---
title: "Ukrainian Antonov Ruslan aircraft catches fire at Japan's Chubu Centrair International Airport"
description: "On October 22, a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo plane caught fire at Chubu Airport in Japan. The runway was closed for 15 minutes before regular operations resumed."
date: 2026-10-22T22:40:45.212Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-ruslan-aircraft-catches-fire-japan
tags: [antonov, japan, chubu-airport, an-124, incident, aviation]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian Antonov Ruslan aircraft catches fire at Japan's Chubu Centrair International Airport

![Ukrainian Antonov An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft on the runway at night during an incident](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/22/v-yaponskom-aeroportu-zagorelsa-ukrainskij-ruslan/v-yaponskom-aeroportu-zagorelsa-ukrainskij-ruslan-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The An-124 incident occurred on October 22, 2026, at Chubu Airport in Japan
- The runway was closed for 15 minutes due to the aircraft fire
- Details regarding injuries, cargo, and fire causes remain undisclosed
- Earlier in August, another Antonov aircraft faced a security threat in Germany

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В японском аэропорту загорелся украинский "Руслан" авиакомпании Антонова](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ponskomu-aeroportu-zagorivsya-ukrayinskiy-1792708595.html) - The article is based on a report by RBC-Ukraine citing the aviation resource FL360aero, covering the Chubu Airport incident and previous safety events in Germany.

## FAQ

### Which aircraft caught fire at Chubu Airport?

A Ukrainian An-124-100 Ruslan transport aircraft operated by Antonov Airlines caught fire at Japan's Chubu Airport.

### How long was the airport closed because of the incident?

The runway at Chubu Airport was closed for 15 minutes due to the fire before flight operations resumed normally.

### Are the causes of the fire and casualty details known?

Official sources have not yet released details regarding injuries, cargo specifics, or the exact cause of the fire.