The world's largest cargo aircraft was reportedly destroyed in Ukraine during a Russian attack. Take a look at the plane, which was big enough to carry 50 cars.

Marielle DescalsotaFeb 28, 2022, 15:02 IST

An Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo airplane with a delivery of protective masks from China lands on April 27, 2020 at the airport of Leipzig, eastern Germany.Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

Ukraine's Antonov An-225 Mriya was the largest cargo aircraft in the world.
It was in service for over 30 years before reportedly being destroyed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

This is the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest cargo aircraft.

Indian Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport personnel stand near the world's largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225 Mriya, at Rajiv Gandhi International airport in Hyderabad on May 13, 2016.Noah Sheelam/AFP via Getty Images

The plane's design dwarfs most other aircraft, measuring around 84 meters (275 feet) long, per Eurocontrol-run aviation website SKYbrary.

This picture shows the wing and three of the six turbofans of the Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya coming from China to deliver 8,6 million face masks and 150 tons of sanitary equipment ordered by a private customer, at the Paris-Vatry airport in Bussy Lettree, on April 19, 2020, on the 34th day of a strict lockdown in France to stop the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).Francois Nascimbeni/AFP/Getty Images

The plane could accommodate up to 250 tonnes of cargo, the weight of roughly 247 Toyota Corolla cars.

A Bundeswehr soldier unloads from an Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo airplane boxes with protective masks delivered from China on April 27, 2020 at the airport of Leipzig in eastern Germany.RONNY HARTMANN/AFP Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

The plane weighed about 330 tonnes, according to automotive news website Autoevolution.

Ukrainian Antonov An-225 "Mriya" aircraft is seen in the assembly shop of the Antonov aircraft plant in Kiev, Ukraine on September 07, 2016.Vladimir Shtanko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Its compartment, which measures 43 meters by 6.4 meters by 4.4 meters (pictured below), was big enough to hold 50 cars, according to Aerotime Hub.

Ukrainian Antonov An-225 "Mriya" aircraft is seen in the assembly shop of the Antonov aircraft plant in Kiev, Ukraine on September 07, 2016.Vladimir Shtanko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

When it was still in service, the plane could be chartered for around $30,000 an hour, according to the BBC.

Crew members in protective suits stand inside an Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo airplane during a delivery of protective masks from China on April 27, 2020 at the airport of Leipzig, eastern Germany.Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

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