A Russian military transport aircraft of the An-26 type crashed in Crimea, resulting in the deaths of 29 people. The accident is considered to have been caused by a technical malfunction.
Aircraft Crashed into a Cliff Area
According to a statement made by the Russian Ministry of Defence, an Antonov An-26 military transport aircraft crashed into a cliff while flying over Crimea.
It was reported that contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 18:00 local time on Tuesday, and search and rescue operations were launched following the incident.
29 People Lost Their Lives
After search and rescue teams reached the area, investigations revealed that all 6 crew members and 23 passengers on board had lost their lives.
Authorities stated that no evidence was found indicating any survivors on the aircraft.
Technical Failure Suspected
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated in its preliminary assessment that no external interference was detected in relation to the accident.
The statement noted that there was no indication of a missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, or bird strike, and that the crash was most likely caused by a technical malfunction. It was also reported that a military commission continues its investigation at the crash site.
An-26 Model and Past Accidents
An-26 aircraft, which have been in service since the 1960s, are used for short- and medium-range military and cargo transportation. However, this model is known to have been involved in numerous accidents in different regions in recent years.
In 2022, an An-26 aircraft crashed in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, while in 2020, another crash in northeastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of all but one of the 27 people on board. The same model aircraft was also involved in fatal accidents in South Sudan in 2020 and in Ivory Coast in 2017.
