By Our Correspondent
National News – A Russian military transport aircraft, the Antonov An-26, crashed over the Crimean Peninsula on March 31, 2026, killing 29 people on board, according to officials from the Russian defence ministry.
The aircraft, which was on a routine military flight, reportedly lost contact with ground control before crashing near the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysaray district of Crimea.
Authorities confirmed that the plane carried seven crew members and 22 passengers, all of whom died in the crash.
Emergency responders and search teams later located the wreckage in the mountainous area near the village.
The crash has raised fresh concerns about aviation safety involving ageing military transport aircraft operating in sensitive regions.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles major criminal cases, said it has opened an investigation into a possible violation of flight safety rules.
According to the agency, investigators are examining the flight’s technical records, maintenance history and communications with air traffic control to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
The Russian defence ministry said contact with the aircraft was lost around 6:00 pm Moscow time while it was on a scheduled flight over Crimea.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the area after radar signals disappeared, leading to the discovery of the crash site hours later.
Preliminary reports cited by Russian state media suggest that technical failure may have caused the crash, as there were no immediate signs of external damage or hostile attack on the wreckage.
However, officials said the final cause will only be confirmed after a full technical and forensic investigation.
The Antonov An-26 is a Soviet-designed military transport aircraft widely used for logistics and troop movement.
Many of the aircraft remain in service across several countries despite their ageing systems, which has previously raised concerns among aviation experts.
The crash occurred in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and still internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory.
The peninsula has remained strategically important to Russia’s military operations.
Authorities are expected to release further details as investigators continue examining the crash site and analysing flight data.
