![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2JB6RLYVVR55K33COHRTIICIGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9deb030072fed734ef36cbe3632bad7459c49f39d84554f13fe7657b41cca132&width=400&height=225)
Somali rapper Freek, who lives in Abu Dhabi, shot a music video for his song 'Wala Kilmay' at the plane. Photo: Elia Mssawir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPDIJXPYKPRVR2LRJZUYXZBDIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=68ae6f5ce9d74e5ff75246bc39aa5af1996884e50cbd00bfff30cea8966759aa&width=400&height=225)
The Ilyushin 76 has been abandoned at the now disused Umm Al Quwain airfield for more than 20 years. John Dennehy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2AJFJJCRXW5SX7ICAKHTJD66Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=08f8fd0525d9841659751377ff39ea88cd12ca496c18e871cf1759d210010bff&width=400&height=225)
The cockpit of the cargo plane. The aircraft first flew for the Soviet air force. Jeff Topping / The National
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The plane is particularly good at landing on unpaved runways. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6K25NFJHCRKQGLAR7T5OUPOBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=defe5af97bb65533b1a0b96d174695676fd9cd361b68b13caa712288c2baabc5&width=400&height=225)
The plane landed at UAQ in 1999 or early 2000. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJXZFVLQWVWHOI7CCKHFQ2G35A.jpg?smart=true&auth=a136f584d7e536af0844c8d1ab6299467385ebdc77cb84e7750c73c7ec7aff2e&width=400&height=225)
The Ilyushin was designed as a strategic airlifter. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZ4IJLY6GT6CKKYO73EJJOHTE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=418c9fd6cf617f9daa7fc7de51f9f1f253402e848e18135755c1ba8e7f4e367a&width=400&height=225)
Rumours circulated it would be turned into a restaurant but this never happened. John Dennehy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALSC6BLJVOLG3IFG7KBRKTJYOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d9bf26a466c683d51bdcbcf5eebafe5c892332f9975f202f386d8966a76123f&width=400&height=225)
Emirati filmmaker Aiham Al Subaihi looking out of the abandoned plane in Umm Al Quwain. Photo: Omar Tartoub
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2JB6RLYVVR55K33COHRTIICIGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9deb030072fed734ef36cbe3632bad7459c49f39d84554f13fe7657b41cca132&width=400&height=225)
Somali rapper Freek, who lives in Abu Dhabi, shot a music video for his song 'Wala Kilmay' at the plane. Photo: Elia Mssawir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPDIJXPYKPRVR2LRJZUYXZBDIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=68ae6f5ce9d74e5ff75246bc39aa5af1996884e50cbd00bfff30cea8966759aa&width=400&height=225)
The Ilyushin 76 has been abandoned at the now disused Umm Al Quwain airfield for more than 20 years. John Dennehy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2AJFJJCRXW5SX7ICAKHTJD66Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=08f8fd0525d9841659751377ff39ea88cd12ca496c18e871cf1759d210010bff&width=400&height=225)
The cockpit of the cargo plane. The aircraft first flew for the Soviet air force. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARUV7Y5QHPGVEN2THYKETSITYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c82ab911f650517bf4ea5da4298ed968d5351edb04df4c0b5cceef3ac20b5df&width=400&height=225)
The plane is particularly good at landing on unpaved runways. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6K25NFJHCRKQGLAR7T5OUPOBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=defe5af97bb65533b1a0b96d174695676fd9cd361b68b13caa712288c2baabc5&width=400&height=225)
The plane landed at UAQ in 1999 or early 2000. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJXZFVLQWVWHOI7CCKHFQ2G35A.jpg?smart=true&auth=a136f584d7e536af0844c8d1ab6299467385ebdc77cb84e7750c73c7ec7aff2e&width=400&height=225)
The Ilyushin was designed as a strategic airlifter. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZ4IJLY6GT6CKKYO73EJJOHTE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=418c9fd6cf617f9daa7fc7de51f9f1f253402e848e18135755c1ba8e7f4e367a&width=400&height=225)
Rumours circulated it would be turned into a restaurant but this never happened. John Dennehy / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALSC6BLJVOLG3IFG7KBRKTJYOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d9bf26a466c683d51bdcbcf5eebafe5c892332f9975f202f386d8966a76123f&width=400&height=225)
Emirati filmmaker Aiham Al Subaihi looking out of the abandoned plane in Umm Al Quwain. Photo: Omar Tartoub
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2JB6RLYVVR55K33COHRTIICIGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9deb030072fed734ef36cbe3632bad7459c49f39d84554f13fe7657b41cca132&width=400&height=225)
Somali rapper Freek, who lives in Abu Dhabi, shot a music video for his song 'Wala Kilmay' at the plane. Photo: Elia Mssawir
Revealed: The moment a mysterious Russian cargo plane landed in Umm Al Quwain
Soviet-era aircraft has been abandoned by the Barracuda Beach Resort for two decades
![John Dennehy](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F6672bef4-f371-4546-90ba-13ad5ded9082.png?smart=true&auth=f1d711e1371a4276112f01656e091484625201f90342530a0b42086db97abdf2&width=70&height=70)
John Dennehy
19 September, 2020
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