At least 29 people were killed after a Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea.The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the accident likely occurred due to a technical malfunction.
The plane was on a planned flight when contact was lost at around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to Reuters.The search team later located the accident site. Officials said all six crew members and 23 passengers were killed, and no survivors were reported.The ministry added that there were no signs of any external influence on the plane, indicating the absence of factors such as missiles, drones or bird strikes.A military commission was sent to investigate the causes of the accident.The ministry said in a statement, “There was no impact on the plane. The initial cause of the crash was a technical malfunction. An army committee is working at the site.”The An-26, a light tactical transport aircraft introduced in the late 1960s, was widely used for both military and civilian purposes.However, it has been involved in several fatal accidents in recent years, including incidents in Ukraine, South Sudan and Ivory Coast.
