Something is happening with the enormous $300M Russian plane seized by Canada

Latest Videos

Something may finally be happening with the gargantuan cargo plane that has sat on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson International Airport for over three years.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was met by harsh sanctions and restrictions from Western nations, including Canada closing off its airspace to Russian-flagged aircraft. This move would result in the years-long grounding of an Antonov An-124 'Ruslan,' registered to Volga Dnepr Airlines, one of the heaviest aircraft in the world.

Valued at approximately $300 million, the stranded cargo plane had been stored mostly undisturbed for over three years along the east edge of the tarmac, close to Silver Dart Dr., attracting gawking passersby and racking up a massive bill in the process.

Canada moved to formally seize the aircraft in mid-2023, though its seizure, along with a plan to transfer the behemoth to Ukraine, is the subject of ongoing legal action from the An-124's private owner.

The seizure has been characterized by the Russian Foreign Ministry as "cynical and shameless theft," while Canadian officials stress that "the actions of the Russian Federation constitute a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted in a serious international crisis."

Some news on the aircraft's future emerged this past spring when Global Affairs Canada confirmed that administrative steps were being taken to take full control of the An-124 as part of a broader plan to help fund Ukraine's defence.

But despite back-and-forth jabs from officials and drawn-out legal battles, the plane remains a fixture at Canada's busiest airport — though its days at the travel hub may be numbered.

The An-124 was spotted on the move last week — only the second time it has budged from its position since Feb. 2022. The move generated discussion online, with some commenters believing the activity was a sign that the plane's transfer to Ukraine was imminent.

AN-124 back on the move!
byu/pettster12 inaviation

However, officials remain tight-lipped about details of the plane's move, and were only able to share limited details about the next moves for the three-year fixture at the airport.

A Toronto Pearson Airport spokesperson tells blogTO that "The aircraft was moved [Friday] for a few hours to another location on airport grounds for routine checks led by the federal government. It has now returned to its designated location."

blogTO was told by a Public Services and Procurement Canada representative that "Workers will be seen on and around the aircraft between September 15 and 29, 2025, as they are performing maintenance services."

The representative explains that "It was for these maintenance purposes that the aircraft was moved to a different location on the airport grounds."

When pressed on plans to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine, the spokesperson declined to provide further information, stating that "Due to security concerns, we will not discuss further details of this or any other on-site work."

So, while this current movement could be interpreted as a signal that the aircraft's departure from Pearson may be coming, it is actually not the first time the An-124 has been towed across the tarmac this year.