A Russian military transport aircraft carrying 29 people crashed over the Crimean Peninsula on Wednesday, leaving no survivors, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the aircraft, identified as an An-26 military transport plane, lost communication with air traffic controllers during a routine flight before going down.
The ministry said the aircraft was carrying 23 passengers and six crew members at the time of the incident.
“During a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula on March 31 at around 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT), communication with the An-26 military transport aircraft was lost,” the statement said.
Following the loss of contact, search and rescue teams were immediately deployed to the area to locate the aircraft. The wreckage was later discovered, but officials confirmed that all 29 occupants on board had died in the crash.
The Defence Ministry said a special investigative commission has been dispatched to the crash site to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Preliminary assessments suggest the crash may have been caused by a technical malfunction, as investigators reported no signs of external interference or attack on the aircraft.
The An-26 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft commonly used by military forces for transporting personnel and cargo, as well as for logistical support missions.
Authorities said a full investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the crash.