A Russian military transport aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 29 people on board, including six crew members, according to rescue officials.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the AN-26 aircraft reportedly struck mountainous terrain shortly after take-off during a routine training mission. Russian state news agency TASS, citing defence officials, said contact with the aircraft was lost soon after departure before it was later confirmed to have gone down near a mountainous area.
Emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site, where they confirmed there were no survivors.
The aircraft had been conducting a scheduled exercise at the time of the incident. Russian authorities said initial assessments point to a possible mechanical failure, although a full investigation is still underway. Officials added that conclusions cannot be drawn until flight data recorders are recovered and analysed.
Speculation has emerged over whether the crash could be linked to external factors, including potential military activity. However, the Russian military has dismissed such suggestions, maintaining that there is no evidence so far to indicate an attack.
The AN-26, a Soviet-era twin-engine turboprop aircraft, is widely used for transporting military equipment and personnel over short to medium distances. The model has been involved in several previous accidents. In 2020, a similar aircraft crashed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, killing all 28 people on board. Another incident involving the same model was reported in 2022.
Aviation analysts note that ageing military fleets, combined with operational pressures, can increase the risk of technical failures, particularly in legacy aircraft still in active service.
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