At least 29 people were killed after a Russian Antonov-26 military plane crashed while flying over the Crimean peninsula, the TASS news agency reported, quoting Russia’s defence ministry on Wednesday.
The incident took place when the military transport aircraft with 23 passengers and six crew members on board, lost contact with the ATC over the Crimean Peninsula.
“On 31 March at around 18:00 Moscow time, contact was lost with the An-26 military transport aircraft whilst it was on a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula,” the defence ministry said.
As per the news agency, the plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea a peninsula jutting into the Black Sea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, killing all 29 individuals on board.
“The search and
rescue team has located the crash site of the An-26 aircraft. According to reports from the scene, the six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed,” the ministry said.
No signs of external impact were found on the aircraft’s wreckage, as per the news agency.
RIA news agency said according to an initial assessment, technical problems were believed to have caused the crash.
(With inputs from agencies)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-177494752440017825.webp)
