Russian An-26 Military Plane Crashes in Crimea, Killing All 29 Aboard
A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in the annexed Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday, March 31, resulting in the deaths of all 29 individuals aboard. Preliminary information from the Russian Defense Ministry suggests a technical malfunction as the cause of the incident. Russia's Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal probe into the crash.
Incident Details
The aircraft impacted a cliffside in a mountainous forested area within the Bakhchisarai district. Military officials lost radar contact with the turboprop aircraft around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Russian authorities officially announced the crash on Wednesday.
Initial reports from the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, stated that the aircraft's fate and crew were unknown, and a search and rescue team had been dispatched. The Defense Ministry also indicated there was no evidence of external damage or "damaging interference" with the aircraft at the time contact was lost.
Casualties and Conflicting Counts
All 29 individuals on board were killed in the crash.
There were conflicting reports regarding the exact breakdown of passengers and crew:
- The Russian Defense Ministry reported 23 passengers and six crew members were killed.
- Russia's Investigative Committee stated the aircraft carried 22 passengers and seven crew members.
- Russian Telegram channels linked to the Defense Ministry reported 29 Russian military personnel, including six crew members, died.
Both sets of reports indicated a total of 29 fatalities. An explanation for the discrepancy in the passenger and crew numbers was not provided by the sources.
Investigation Underway
Preliminary information from the Russian Defense Ministry points to a technical malfunction as the likely cause of the crash. Following the incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal probe related to flight regulations.
About the An-26 Aircraft
The An-26 is a Soviet-era twin-engine turboprop aircraft. It is designed for short- and medium-haul transport and is capable of carrying up to 40 troops or 5.5 tons of cargo.
Regional Context and Related Incidents
The annexed Crimean Peninsula has been a frequent target of attacks. For example, Ukrainian forces reported destroying a Zircon hypersonic missile launcher in Crimea on March 24.
This incident is part of a series of Russian military aircraft accidents since February 2022. Previous crashes include:
- An An-22 transport plane in Russia's Ivanovo region in December, killing seven crew members.
- A MiG-31 fighter jet in the Lipetsk region in October.
- A Tu-22M3 bomber in the Irkutsk region in April.
- A Su-34 bomber in October 2022, which crashed into a residential area in Yeysk, resulting in 15 fatalities.
- In September, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) previously reported destroying two Russian An-26 transport aircraft in a drone attack on Crimea.
Verification Note
The Kyiv Independent has not independently verified these reports or claims made by Russian officials regarding the crash. Ukraine's military has not issued a statement concerning the reported incident.