Russian military plane crashes in Crimea, killing 29 people

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CRIMEA: A Russian military transport plane crashed into a cliffside in the mountainous region of annexed Crimea early Wednesday morning, killing at least 29 people. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the An-26 military transport aircraft was conducting a scheduled flight when it lost contact with ground control on Tuesday.

The Investigative Committee confirmed that the plane was carrying seven crew members and 23 passengers. While initial reports suggested 29 fatalities, authorities are still clarifying the status of one crew member as search teams navigate the dense forests of the Bakhchisarai district.

Military officials cited a ‘technical malfunction’ as the likely cause, explicitly stating there were no signs of ‘damaging interference’ or external attack. This incident adds to a growing list of Russian military aviation accidents, which have increased significantly since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022.

Photo Credits: AFP