No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaAntonov An-124 expected in Costa Rica on Friday afternoon

Antonov An-124 expected in Costa Rica on Friday afternoon [Updated]

Update: The plane’s flight has been changed to Friday, May 31. FlightAware lists a 5:23 p.m. arrival time.

To track the plane on FlightAware, click here.

The Antonov An-124 is carrying a 30-ton transformer that will be transported from Alajuela to Limón and installed at APM Terminals Moín.

“Thanks to the support and seriousness of our company and the commitment that APM Terminals has with its clients and Costa Rica, there was no objection to making the investment and moving equipment of this size by air,” said Kenneth Waugh, director general of APM Terminals.

Original story: 

Residents living in the Central Valley should turn their eyes skyward Thursday afternoon.

An Antonov An-124, among the world’s largest planes, is expected to land at Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport.

According to aviation blog AviacionCR.net, the massive Ukrainian jet is scheduled to land at approximately 3:30 p.m. It will reportedly remain on Costa Rican soil for a week.

An An-124 visited Costa Rica last November, delivering a replacement engine for a stranded aircraft.

The transport aircraft was designed and built in the Soviet Union, and the type’s first flight was in 1982.

A previous version of this story said the aircraft is Russian. While the plane flies for a Russian cargo airline, Antonov is a Ukrainian company.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Clears Way for “Macho Coca” Extradition to U.S.

Costa Rican courts have cleared the final domestic obstacle blocking the extradition of Gilbert Bell Fernández, known as “Macho Coca,” to the United States,...

Costa Rica’s Forgotten WWII Role Echoes on D-Day’s 82nd Anniversary

Eighty-two years ago today, roughly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy, France, launching Operation Overlord to liberate German-occupied Western Europe — the single day...

Paraguay Fall 4-1 to USA as World Cup 2026 Opens for North American Hosts

The 2026 World Cup's North American co-hosts seized the spotlight Friday, as the United States overwhelmed Paraguay 4-1 behind a Folarin Balogun brace and,...

Sargassum Arrivals Break Records in Costa Rica’s Caribbean

The Center for Marine Science and Limnology Research (Cimar-UCR) reported that sargassum is breaking arrival records in Costa Rica’s Caribbean region. Cimar researchers Cindy...

Canatur Criticizes Ride-Sharing Apps Being Used to Promote Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s main tourism chamber is pushing back against the use of ride-sharing platforms in official tourism promotion, arguing that public and private campaigns...

Zverev Wins First Grand Slam Title at French Open 2026

Alexander Zverev won the first Grand Slam title of his career on Sunday, outlasting Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the...

Starbucks Adds Protein Cold Foam Drinks Across Costa Rica

Starbucks is adding a new line of protein-infused cold beverages to its menu in Costa Rica, bringing the chain’s latest regional drink platform to...

Guanacaste Faces One of Its Worst Droughts as Rain Hits Much of Costa Rica

Guanacaste is facing one of its worst drought situations in years, even as much of Costa Rica deals with heavy rain, saturated soils and...

Costa Rica Says Ocean Conservation Must Benefit Fishing Communities

Costa Rica used a major international environmental finance meeting in Uzbekistan to present a marine conservation message built around coastal communities, fishing families and...
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel