Dmitry Antonov: “As soon as I sort things out a bit, I will continue to fly”/Channel 24 Collage in the world, the Russian invaders destroyed during the battles for the Antonov airport, which is located in the vicinity of Gostomel. Now on the fuselage of “Mriya” numerous holes from hits of shells are visible. The wings and nose of the plane are on the ground.
- 1Watch the interview with Dmitry Antonov in video format
- 2″I have painful memories”
- 3About Russian propaganda and pilots from Russia
- 4″I don't know why the Mriya was not moved
Legends and stars of world civil aviation are no more. Only a part of the parts survived – some engines, wing elements, landing gear. Their suitability has yet to be assessed by the members of the expert commission, Dmitry Antonov, the main pilot of the An-225, says with regret.
As part of the Interview 24 project, we talked with him about Russia's war against Ukraine, the battles for the Gostomel airport, civil aviation and pilots from Russia. Dmitry Antonov also shared his memories of the most exciting flight of the Mriya, which he clearly remembers even years later.
Watch the interview with Dmitry Antonov in video format
< h2 class="anchor-link" id="2" name="2">“I have painful memories”
How did you know that “Mriya“ destroyed? What did you immediately think of when you saw the plane after the airport was vacated “Antonov“?< /em>
During the beginning of the war, I understood very well that the plane remained here (on the territory of the Antonov airport – channel 24). At the end of February, information began to appear that not all was well with the An-225. Everyone is sure that it was on February 27 that the main destruction occurred to him. However, it will be possible to talk about this (the exact date is Channel 24) only after the completion of a comprehensive investigation.
You and I see the results after hits on the Mriya – channel 24, either by a shell, or a bomb, or something else. But the conclusions are required to provide the competent authorities. I have painful memories. I was waiting for the moment when I could see the plane with my own eyes. What happened, happened. Unfortunately, there is practically no plane.
Dmitry Antonov: “Unfortunately, there is practically no plane”/Photo by Ekaterina Gatsenko, Channel 24
Since 2002, you have been the main pilot of the An-225. What was the most exciting flight ever?
All flights on this aircraft are unique in some way. However, the most publicized was the arrival of Mriya to Australia in May 2016. Perhaps that is why he was remembered. We then transported a generator (with a total weight of more than 130 tons – 24 channels) to Perth Airport from Europe.
Upon arrival, we were met by about 15,000 Australians who had gathered around the airport the day before. It was impressive to see so many people not inside the airport, but around its perimeter. So this flight was 100% remembered for a long time.
About Russian propaganda and pilots from Russia
< strong>In Soviet times, you graduated from the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School, located in the Saratov region of Russia. With the outbreak of a full-scale war, did your fellow pilots from Russia contact you? If so, what did they say about the actions of the Kremlin?
We talked a little with him before the start of these events. All the colleagues with whom we studied together have now gone underground and cut off all ties. Apparently, they live in their own world, a paradigm. It's impossible to understand. People have become isolated and believe only in what they believe in.
Mriya destroyed/Photo by Ekaterina Gatsenko, Channel 24
“I don't know why Mriya wasn't moved
According to you, in June, representatives NATO was recommended “Antonov“ to relocate his entire fleet to Leipzig. However, the leadership of the GP did not do this. Recently “Ukroboronprom“ removed from work the general director of the enterprise Sergey Bychkov. In your opinion, will an official investigation help find and punish indirectly those responsible for the destruction of the An-225?
You can't live in the subjunctive mood. Personally, I believe that the opportunity to move the plane to another location was definitely there. Many Ukrainian airlines took their planes out of Ukraine (shortly before the full-scale invasion of Russia – Channel 24).
The CEO was removed from work not only in connection with this. An investigation is underway. I hope that after its completion, answers to all questions will be announced. I draw your attention to the fact that he did not personally (Sergey Bychkov – Channel 24) did all this. The plane was destroyed as a result of fire strikes – some kind of shells, bombs, grenades. I don't know why they didn't move Mriya. I only know that if there was one team, then the plane would not be here. He would have flown away.
What does the destroyed Mriya look like/Photo by Ekaterina Gatsenko, Channel 24
Pay attention! On the air of the Rada TV channel, the press secretary of the Antonov State Enterprise Larisa Drozdova noted that “somewhere from $700 million to $1 billion” is needed, to finish building a copy of the An-225.
For the past two months, almost every day you have been debunking the myths spread by Russian propaganda on your YouTube channel. Can we say that you are working on the information front while there is no opportunity to pilot? strong>
No. I'm involved here right now. We are moving from Gostomel to Kyiv. We will have an office there. As soon as I understand everything a little bit, I will continue to fly. We have planes that fly. Among them – An-124 (“Ruslan” – Channel 24). I will continue flying on them.
“Interview 24” is a project on the Channel 24 website about the most important topics. Conversations that change the country for the better.
The author of the project is Anastasia Zazulyak, deputy editor-in-chief of the site.
