At least 29 people were killed after a Russian military transport aircraft crashed into a cliff in Crimea, according to official statements.
The aircraft, identified as an Antonov An-26, lost contact around 6 pm local time on Tuesday while on a planned flight. Search teams later located the wreckage at the crash site.
No survivors, probe underway
Russia’s defence ministry confirmed that all six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed in the दुर्घಟನೆ, with no survivors reported.
Preliminary findings suggest that the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. Officials stated there were no signs of external interference such as missile strikes, drones, or bird hits.
A military commission has been deployed to investigate the exact cause of the incident.
Aircraft’s troubled history
The An-26, introduced in the late 1960s, has been widely used for both military and civilian operations. However, the aircraft model has been linked to multiple fatal crashes in recent years across different countries.
Experts have often pointed to ageing systems and maintenance challenges as possible risk factors associated with older aircraft fleets.
Concerns over aviation safety
The incident has once again raised concerns about aviation safety, particularly involving older military aircraft still in service.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed technical analysis to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash.