CRIMEA: A Russian military transport aircraft crashed in Russian-controlled Crimea, killing all 29 people on board.
The An-26 aircraft was on a routine flight on Tuesday when it struck a cliff and went down, according to international media reports.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said a technical malfunction likely caused the crash.
Authorities lost contact with the aircraft at around 6 p.m. local time. Rescue teams launched a search operation and later located the crash site.
Officials said six crew members and 23 passengers were on board. All were killed. No survivors were found.
The Defense Ministry said it found no evidence of external factors such as a missile strike, drone activity, or a bird collision. It indicated an internal technical failure as the probable cause.
Authorities have formed a military commission to investigate the incident. The commission will determine the exact cause of the crash.
The An-26 has been in service since the 1960s. Operators use it for short- and medium-range transport of cargo and personnel. The aircraft model has been involved in several fatal accidents in recent years.
