One of the largest cargo planes in the world, a Russian-owned Antonov An-124, has been a permanent fixture at Toronto Pearson Airport since February 27, 2022. This week, after more than three and a half years of sitting idle on the tarmac, the enormous aircraft was finally moved — but only briefly, and not very far.
A spokesperson for Public Services and Procurement Canada confirmed the plane was shifted within Pearson’s grounds solely for maintenance. Crews have been working on and around the seven-storey-tall aircraft between September 15 and 29, carrying out inspections and upkeep to preserve its condition. Once the work was completed, the Antonov was returned to its familiar spot on the airfield, where it has remained since Canada closed its airspace to Russian planes following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Antonov An-124, three-quarters the length of a football field and with a wingspan that stretches wider than its length, has become a striking landmark visible to both highway commuters and airline passengers. For now, however, the giant jet remains the subject of a fierce legal tug-of-war between Ottawa and its Russian owner, Volga-Dnepr Airlines.
The Canadian government seized the aircraft in June 2023, announcing it would eventually be delivered to Ukraine as part of an aid package. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally pledged to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the plane would be handed over to ensure it could never again be used by Russia. But Volga-Dnepr disputed the seizure and took the fight to court, stalling Ottawa’s plans. Earlier this year, Canada’s Attorney General filed a Notice of Application for forfeiture with the Superior Court of Ontario, with the final decision now resting in the courts.
Until that process plays out, the massive cargo plane remains stranded at Pearson — a symbol of global politics, caught between two nations at war, and a curiosity for the thousands who pass it daily.