A Russian Air Force An-26 turboprop airlifter has crashed near the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. According to TASS new agency, the aircr...
A Russian Air Force An-26 turboprop airlifter has crashed near the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria.
According to TASS new agency, the aircraft crashed at around 15:00 (Moscow time), while coming in for landing at the airbase.
All the 32 onboard, including 26 passengers and 6 crew members had died in the accident.
Russian Ministry of Defense said the aircraft crashed some 500 meters from the runway, and hinted at technical malfunction rather than enemy fire for the accident.
Khmeimim is a permanent Russian airbase in Syria, from where it carries out aerial operations in support of the Assad govt.
The twin engined Antonov An-26 is a soviet era tactical transport aircraft, with over 100 in Russian Air Force fleet.
The accident aircraft was an Antonov An-26, registration RF-92955, msn 10107. It was first flown in 1980.
