AN124 Departs EU Airport LCA 8th April 2022

[Shaman]

I thought Russian a/c were banned from EU airspace?

An AN124 departed Larnaca airport at around 0600 GMT on Friday the 8th April 2022. I heard it first then saw it staggering into the sky to the west - not too sure whether it was climbing or accelerating...

Very little detail on FR24.com

[renfrew]

Ukrainian aircraft are operating.

[Shaman]

Thanks for the reply. I was a little suspicious since there were no details about the a/c - e.g., registration, route etc - on FR24.com

[TwinAisle]

UR-CIC Antonov AN-12B of Meridian Air Cargo - ran a service to Bucharest,

[ATNotts]

UR-CIC Antonov AN-12B of Meridian Air Cargo - ran a service to Bucharest,

That ship, and other Ukrainian Antonov 12s have been operating throughout the conflict, several rotations have been through BHX among other UK airports. I imagine they remain quite common sights across western Europe as a whole.

[Less Hair]

Antonov is operating their's from Leipzig.