29 killed as Russian An-26 crashes in Crimea, technical fault suspected

At least 29 people were killed after a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft crashed into a cliff in Crimea, with a preliminary investigation pointing to a technical malfunction as the likely cause. Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors in the incident, making it one of the deadliest crashes involving the aircraft in recent years.

According to official statements, contact with the aircraft was lost at around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday during a scheduled flight over the Crimean peninsula. Search teams later located the crash site, where it was confirmed that all six crew members and 23 passengers on board had died. The defence ministry did not initially specify the number of people on board but indicated that no one survived the crash.

Initial findings suggest that the aircraft did not encounter any external interference, ruling out possibilities such as missile strikes, drone activity, or bird hits. Investigators have instead focused on a suspected technical fault, with a military commission currently examining the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the crash.

The An-26, a Soviet-era light military transport aircraft, has been in service since the late 1960s and is widely used for cargo and personnel transport over short and medium distances. Despite its long operational history, the aircraft has been involved in multiple accidents globally over the years, raising concerns about ageing fleet reliability.

This latest crash adds to a series of fatal incidents involving the An-26 platform, with previous accidents reported in different parts of the world over the past decade. Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.