diff --git a/pkg/sql/colflow/explain_vec.go b/pkg/sql/colflow/explain_vec.go
index 13d8f0c1eee1..a1711cf95ad3 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/colflow/explain_vec.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/colflow/explain_vec.go
@@ -101,9 +101,15 @@ type flowWithNode struct {
 
 // ExplainVec converts the flows (that are assumed to be vectorizable) into the
 // corresponding string representation.
+//
 // It also supports printing of already constructed operator chains which takes
 // priority if non-nil (flows are ignored). All operators in opChains are
 // assumed to be planned on the gateway.
+//
+// As the second return parameter it returns a non-nil cleanup function which
+// can be called only **after** closing the planNode tree containing the
+// explainVecNode (if ExplainVec is used by another caller, then it can be
+// called at any time).
 func ExplainVec(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	flowCtx *execinfra.FlowCtx,
@@ -113,14 +119,25 @@ func ExplainVec(
 	gatewayNodeID roachpb.NodeID,
 	verbose bool,
 	distributed bool,
-) ([]string, error) {
+) (_ []string, cleanup func(), _ error) {
 	tp := treeprinter.NewWithStyle(treeprinter.CompactStyle)
 	root := tp.Child("│")
-	var conversionErr error
+	var (
+		cleanups      []func()
+		err           error
+		conversionErr error
+	)
+	defer func() {
+		cleanup = func() {
+			for _, c := range cleanups {
+				c()
+			}
+		}
+	}()
 	// It is possible that when iterating over execinfra.OpNodes we will hit a
 	// panic (an input that doesn't implement OpNode interface), so we're
 	// catching such errors.
-	if err := colexecerror.CatchVectorizedRuntimeError(func() {
+	if err = colexecerror.CatchVectorizedRuntimeError(func() {
 		if opChains != nil {
 			formatChains(root, gatewayNodeID, opChains, verbose)
 		} else {
@@ -132,8 +149,8 @@ func ExplainVec(
 			// last.
 			sort.Slice(sortedFlows, func(i, j int) bool { return sortedFlows[i].nodeID < sortedFlows[j].nodeID })
 			for _, flow := range sortedFlows {
-				opChains, cleanup, err := convertToVecTree(ctx, flowCtx, flow.flow, localProcessors, !distributed)
-				defer cleanup()
+				opChains, cleanup, err = convertToVecTree(ctx, flowCtx, flow.flow, localProcessors, !distributed)
+				cleanups = append(cleanups, cleanup)
 				if err != nil {
 					conversionErr = err
 					return
@@ -142,12 +159,12 @@ func ExplainVec(
 			}
 		}
 	}); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 	if conversionErr != nil {
-		return nil, conversionErr
+		return nil, nil, conversionErr
 	}
-	return tp.FormattedRows(), nil
+	return tp.FormattedRows(), nil, nil
 }
 
 func formatChains(
diff --git a/pkg/sql/distsql_physical_planner.go b/pkg/sql/distsql_physical_planner.go
index aba284251ffe..3df22737bab9 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/distsql_physical_planner.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/distsql_physical_planner.go
@@ -732,11 +732,12 @@ func (p *PlanningCtx) getDefaultSaveFlowsFunc(
 		if planner.instrumentation.collectBundle && planner.curPlan.flags.IsSet(planFlagVectorized) {
 			flowCtx := newFlowCtxForExplainPurposes(p, planner)
 			getExplain := func(verbose bool) []string {
-				explain, err := colflow.ExplainVec(
+				explain, cleanup, err := colflow.ExplainVec(
 					ctx, flowCtx, flows, p.infra.LocalProcessors, opChains,
 					planner.extendedEvalCtx.DistSQLPlanner.gatewayNodeID,
 					verbose, planner.curPlan.flags.IsDistributed(),
 				)
+				cleanup()
 				if err != nil {
 					// In some edge cases (like when subqueries are present or
 					// when certain component doesn't implement execinfra.OpNode
diff --git a/pkg/sql/explain_vec.go b/pkg/sql/explain_vec.go
index 815fc7f407d7..ec53708e1d58 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/explain_vec.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/explain_vec.go
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ type explainVecNode struct {
 		lines []string
 		// The current row returned by the node.
 		values tree.Datums
+		// cleanup will be called after closing the input tree.
+		cleanup func()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ func (n *explainVecNode) startExec(params runParams) error {
 		return errors.New("vectorize is set to 'off'")
 	}
 	verbose := n.options.Flags[tree.ExplainFlagVerbose]
-	n.run.lines, err = colflow.ExplainVec(
+	n.run.lines, n.run.cleanup, err = colflow.ExplainVec(
 		params.ctx, flowCtx, flows, physPlan.LocalProcessors, nil, /* opChains */
 		distSQLPlanner.gatewayNodeID, verbose, willDistribute,
 	)
@@ -131,4 +133,7 @@ func (n *explainVecNode) Next(runParams) (bool, error) {
 func (n *explainVecNode) Values() tree.Datums { return n.run.values }
 func (n *explainVecNode) Close(ctx context.Context) {
 	n.plan.close(ctx)
+	if n.run.cleanup != nil {
+		n.run.cleanup()
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/vectorize_local b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/vectorize_local
index 47846c77cfb2..0ed6ac2d024b 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/vectorize_local
+++ b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/vectorize_local
@@ -447,3 +447,20 @@ EXPLAIN (VEC)
   └ *sql.planNodeToRowSource
     └ *colfetcher.ColIndexJoin
       └ *colfetcher.ColBatchScan
+
+# Regression test for releasing operators before closing them with EXPLAIN (VEC)
+# (#70438).
+statement ok
+CREATE TABLE t70438 (k INT PRIMARY KEY, v INT, UNIQUE INDEX foo (v));
+INSERT INTO t70438 VALUES (1, 2), (3, 4), (5, 6), (7, 8);
+
+query T
+EXPLAIN (VEC) DELETE FROM t70438 WHERE k=3 OR v=6
+----
+│
+└ Node 1
+  └ *sql.planNodeToRowSource
+    └ *colexec.unorderedDistinct
+      └ *colexec.SerialUnorderedSynchronizer
+        ├ *colfetcher.ColBatchScan
+        └ *colfetcher.ColBatchScan