Russian military transport plane crashes in Crimea, all 29 dead
What's the story
A Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed into a cliff in Crimea on Tuesday evening, killing all 29 people on board. The crash occurred during a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula when communication with the aircraft was lost at around 6:00pm local time (1500 GMT). The victims included six crew members and 23 passengers.
Investigation underway
Preliminary cause is technical malfunction: Defense ministry
Russia's defense ministry has said that a technical malfunction is the preliminary cause of the crash. The ministry also confirmed that there were no signs of external impact on the aircraft, ruling out missiles, drones, or bird strikes as possible causes. A military commission has been dispatched to investigate further into this tragic incident.
Aircraft history
An-26 aircraft involved in several deadly crashes
The An-26 is a light tactical military transport aircraft that has been in service since the late 1960s. It can carry cargo and up to 40 passengers over short and medium distances. However, The Times of India reported that this model has been involved in several deadly crashes over the years, including incidents in Ukraine, South Sudan, and the Ivory Coast.