Passengers Showed Up For A Regional Flight — Then Boarded A Cargo Plane With Folding Seats And Luggage Strapped Down The Middle

On January 22, 2026, passengers booked on Russia’s IrAero flight RD382 from Irkutsk to Mama arrived to find their scheduled aircraft had changed – from an Antonov An-24 passenger turboprop to an Antonov An-26 set up as a freighter. Customers, including children, sat on folding sidewall seats along the fuselage, with luggage strapped down in the center of the cabin.

The East Siberian transport prosecutor is investigating passenger complaints they weren’t informed about the change prior to departure as required by the airline’s conditions of carriage. IrAero says:

• They can substitute aircraft
  
• The An-26 is a legitimate combi variant

While this is being framed as “civilians flown on a military transport plane” and the An-26’s history is as military transport, the Soviet-era An-26-100 is actually a civil convertible passenger and freight combination configuration.

In the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country’s airlines have been forced to lean on older domestic aircraft and pillaging aircraft for parts.

• EU sanctions prohibit providing Russia with technical assistance and services for aviation goods and technology, including maintenance support).

• The U.S. imposed controls and licensing requirements on aircraft and aircraft parts destined for Russia.

• Major manufacturers were forced to freeze parts and support.

While Russia has managed better economically than many expected, it does appear that sanctions do have an impact. The An-26 in particular has had its permitted operating life extended from 50 to 60 years due to a shortage of regional aircraft, and as in this case some aircraft were converted to An-26-100 passenger versions.

Pakistan International Airlines flew with more passengers than seats so customers stood in the aisle for 1,700 miles. Not limited to Pakistan, a Briitsh family without seats sat on the floor of a 900-mile flight. And – intentionally – El Al flew with dozens on the floor in the aftermath of 7/10. Even Delta accidentally left the gate with more passengers than seats.

(HT: One Mile at a Time)