The National

na17 UAQ plane

  • The Ilyushin 76 has been abandoned at the now disused Umm Al Quwain airfield for more than 20 years. John Dennehy / The National
    The Ilyushin 76 has been abandoned at the now disused Umm Al Quwain airfield for more than 20 years. John Dennehy / The National
  • The cockpit of the cargo plane. The aircraft first flew for the Soviet air force. Jeff Topping / The National
    The cockpit of the cargo plane. The aircraft first flew for the Soviet air force. Jeff Topping / The National
  • The plane is particularly good at landing on unpaved runways. Jeff Topping / The National
    The plane is particularly good at landing on unpaved runways. Jeff Topping / The National
  • The plane landed at UAQ in 1999 or early 2000. Jeff Topping / The National
    The plane landed at UAQ in 1999 or early 2000. Jeff Topping / The National
  • The Ilyushin was designed as a strategic airlifter. Jeff Topping / The National
    The Ilyushin was designed as a strategic airlifter. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Rumours circulated it would be turned into a restaurant but this never happened. John Dennehy / The National
    Rumours circulated it would be turned into a restaurant but this never happened. John Dennehy / The National
  • Emirati filmmaker Aiham Al Subaihi looking out of the abandoned plane in Umm Al Quwain. Photo: Omar Tartoub
    Emirati filmmaker Aiham Al Subaihi looking out of the abandoned plane in Umm Al Quwain. Photo: Omar Tartoub
  • Somali rapper Freek, who lives in Abu Dhabi, shot a music video for his song 'Wala Kilmay' at the plane. Photo: Elia Mssawir
    Somali rapper Freek, who lives in Abu Dhabi, shot a music video for his song 'Wala Kilmay' at the plane. Photo: Elia Mssawir