Covid-19: Why the world’s biggest plane visited two African countries this week

WINDHOEK— The Antonov An-225 Mriya, reputed as the world’s biggest aircraft graced the runways of two international airports in Africa this week.

The giant size plane left Leipzig in Germany with Coronavirus supplies destined for a southern African country.

But its first stop was the the Kotoka International Airport, KIA, when it was given clearance to land. In Accra, it did not take too long to be back on the runway and heading further down the continent.

The Ghana Airports Company Limited said the cargo plane had made a technical stop in order to refuel before completing its journey.

It was carrying medical supplies from Germany to be donated to southern African nation of Namibia.

The country has recently seen an uptick in the number of Coronavirus cases and as a former colonial power, Germany sent material support to help in the fight against the virus.

“The world’s largest aircraft, the Antonov-225, with a consignment of medical equipments and materials landed at the Hosea Kutako International Airport later in the afternoon.

“The consignment will be used to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Namibia’s Airports Company posted on Twitter. The post was accompanied with photos of the plane offloading its cargo.

The six-engine plane which is estimated to cost between US$200 million and US$250 million is one of only two built in the world and undertakes strategic heavy lifting of cargo transport to specific destinations in the world.

While the Airbus A380 Airliner, the An-124 and the Boeing 747 Freighter are relatively huge, the “Antonov An-225 Mriya” is said to be the largest aircraft to ever be built for the aviation industry.

The Antonov An-225 Mriya is currently the only fleet in operation.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK