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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV – MRIYA Cargo Plane – Bakalets
HEADLINE: Pilot Of World’s Largest Cargo Plane Bids Farewell To The Aircraft Destroyed By Russian Forces
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 05/09/022 at 9am
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE; MAS
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA news, see courtesies,
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:51
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: Interview is Zoom, cleared for use))
EDITORS NOTE:
((INTRO))
[[Dmytro Antonov served as the captain of the world’s largest cargo plane, the AN-225 “Mriya.” His role ended when Russian forces destroyed the iconic plane shortly after invading Ukraine. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine))
((NATS))
It was the largest and heaviest cargo plane in the world.
Now this is what remains of the
((End courtesy))
Ukrainian Army’s AN-225 Mriya.
Russian forces destroyed the legendary plane on
((Mandatory Courtesy: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine ))
February 27th, on the third day of the war in Ukraine.
((End courtesy))
((Dmytro Antonov, Pilot)) ((ZOOM)) ((IN RUSSIAN))
“Half of the plane was fully destroyed. The main part where pilots would be seated,
where we lived, where we spent all of our time, our cockpit, it was all destroyed.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov & YouTube Logo))
Dmytro Antonov was piloting Mriya on its last flight on February 5th, from Denmark to Ukraine. He says it was hard for him to accept the reality of the plane’s destruction.
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine))
((Dmytro Antonov, Pilot)) ((ZOOM)) ((IN RUSSIAN))
“I kept saying that until I see
((End courtesy))
what’s left of the plane myself, with my own eyes, I won’t believe it.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov + YouTube Logo))
Antonov went to see the remnants of the plane the day after Russian forces withdrew from the city of Hostomel, where the hangars of the Antonov plant are located.
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov + YouTube Logo))
((NATS))
“Well, let’s go and say hi… Hello there, plane. This is horrible…”
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov + YouTube Logo))
Captain Antonov flew 1500 hours and saw the world on the faithful Mriya.
The plane was used to transport generators for power stations, huge windmill
((End courtesy))
blades, animals and humanitarian aid.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mriya transported medical equipment and PPE around the globe.
((Dmytro Antonov, Pilot)) ((ZOOM)) ((IN RUSSIAN))
“There were always many people who wanted to take a
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov + YouTube Logo))
look at the plane, many reporters wanted to know how Mriya flies, how it was designed and constructed…”
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Dmytro Antonov + YouTube Logo))
Dmytro Antonov, like other aircraft experts, says it is impossible to repair the plane. But it is possible to build a new one – the Antonov plant has an unfinished part of another Mriya plane.
But with estimated costs ranging from 800-million to 3-billion dollars, Antonov admits it doesn’t make sense to rebuild the plane for
((End courtesy))
commercial use. But he adds, it may be valuable in other ways.
((Dmytro Antonov, Pilot)) ((ZOOM)) ((IN RUSSIAN))
“I believe at first, Mriya will be rebuilt not as a commercial project but as a symbol, and not just symbol of Ukraine. As a symbol of the whole world, symbol of victory!”
((NATS)) ((Mriya taking off))
((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
