The Antonov AN-225 was destroyed today (Sunday) during the fighting in Ukraine, when Russian forces bombed the airport near Kiev where the plane was parked.
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It is a huge plane 84 meters long, its wingspan is 88 meters, it has 32 wheels and a height of more than 18 meters.
The plane weighed 285,000 kg and could carry a cargo weighing 300,000 kg.
The plane also had six engines.
Israel Today's tourism correspondent Shimon Yaish next to the plane, Photo: Shimon Yaish
The plane was built in 1989 and was the only one of its kind in the world.
There have been attempts in the past to build another aircraft of the same type, but to date its construction has not been completed.
In August 2020, the plane landed for the second time at Ben Gurion Airport in an incident reviewed by all Israeli media outlets.
The Antonov AN-225 aircraft in Israel, Photo: Shimon Yaish
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kolba said in reference to the plane's destruction that "it was the largest plane in the world and its name was Mriya which means 'dream'. Russia may have succeeded in destroying the plane named Dream, but it will not be able to destroy our dream of a democratic and free country in Europe."
Ukraine has already announced that it will restore the destroyed plane.
In 1989 the plane carried the Soviet "Buran" ferry on its back, which became a historic event with spectacular images that are re-published today.
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