Russian military plane crash in Crimea kills 29, technical fault suspected
A Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed in Crimea, killing all 29 persons on board. Early reports suggest a technical fault may have caused the tragedy
Russian plane crash: A Russian military transport aircraft crashed in Crimea on Tuesday evening, killing all 29 persons on board. According to Russian news agencies, the country’s defence ministry confirmed the incident.
The aircraft, an An-26, lost contact while flying over the Crimean Peninsula around 6 pm Moscow time. Shortly after, it crashed into a cliff. Officials said there were 23 passengers and six crew members on the plane, and no one survived.
Initial reports suggest that a technical fault may have caused the crash, though a detailed investigation is yet to be carried out.
Crimea, where the accident took place, was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and remains a sensitive region.
The An-26 aircraft has been in service for many years and is commonly used for transport purposes. However, it has been involved in several accidents in the past.
In recent years, similar crashes have been reported in Ukraine, South Sudan and Côte d’Ivoire, raising concerns about the aircraft’s safety record.