Russian military plane crashes in Crimea, 29 feared dead

International:

Russian military plane crashes in Crimea, 29 feared dead

A Russian military aircraft has crashed in the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, with all 29 people on board feared dead, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The aircraft, identified as an Antonov An-26, reportedly lost contact with air traffic control during a routine flight on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. A search operation was launched, and the wreckage was later discovered.

Officials indicated that the crash was likely due to a technical malfunction, noting there was no evidence of external damage to the aircraft, effectively ruling out a missile strike or drone attack.

There were seven crew members and 23 passengers on board at the time of the दुर्घटना. However, initial reports have been inconsistent, with uncertainty surrounding whether any individual may have survived.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has since opened an inquiry into a possible breach of flight safety regulations.

State media reports said the aircraft disappeared from radar around 18:00 local time before emergency responders located the crash site.

There has been no immediate response from Ukraine.

The An-26, first introduced in the late 1960s, has long been used for military cargo and personnel transport, though it has been involved in several fatal accidents over the years.

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