World's largest cargo aircraft lands at Karachi Airport
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The world’s largest and heaviest aircraft, Antonov An-225, landed at Jinnah International Airport for a technical stopover and refuelling, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
The Russian-built aircraft, which has a wingspan of 88.4 meters, a height of 18.2 meters, is powered by six turbofan engines, landed in Pakistan’s commercial capital from Kabul around 11:30 am on Wednesday.
NEW 🚨 World's Biggest Plane Antonov An-225 Mriya Landing at Karachi Airport pic.twitter.com/1dciTWmhCX
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 23, 2021
The giant aircraft, capable of lifting 700 tonnes, is a part of the NATO forces' withdrawal process as foreign troops leave Afghanistan.
Reports in media quoting aviation sources said “The aircraft contained military cargo that was being transported from Afghanistan as part of withdrawal plan of the US and allied forces from the war-torn country.”
The aircraft is carrying three Royal Airforce (RAF) helicopters from Afghanistan to the UK. It will depart from Karachi to RAF Brize Norton airport, which is a royal airforce base in Britain.
More footage 🚨 The world’s largest cargo plane, Antonov An-225 Mriya, lands in Karachihttps://t.co/VDTV9uQ6VM
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 23, 2021
The heavy cargo aircraft was built to piggyback the Russian ‘Buran’ orbiter - a space shuttle. Since then Antonov An-225 has been used to carry oversized cargo, most recently carrying medical supplies to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
On the other hand, cargo activity between Pakistan and Afghanistan has seen a rise in recent weeks amid the foreign troops’ withdrawal.