Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Tears have started flowing freely in Russia following the crash of Russian Antonov-26 military transport plane.
The plane crashed over the occupied Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday, killing all 29 passengers on board.
Truth Live News International quoted Russian authorities to have confirmed the claim.
The TASS state news agency quoted the Defence Ministry, reporting that the aircraft lost contact around 18:00 Moscow time near the village of Kuibyshevo in Bakhchysaray district.
The crash involved 7 crew members and 23 passengers.
“On 31 March 2026, an An-26 aircraft crashed whilst in flight near the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysaray district of the Republic of Crimea.
“There were 7 crew members and 23 passengers on board,” the committee said.
The Russian Investigative Committee, in charge of probing major incidents, opened an investigation into possible flight safety violations.
Early reports indicate no signs of external impact on the wreckage, suggesting a technical failure may have caused the disaster.
Search and rescue teams located the crash site, confirming that all crew and passengers were killed.
“Russia has administered Crimea since its annexation from Ukraine in 2014.
“On 31 March at around 18:00 Moscow time, contact was lost with the An-26 military transport aircraft whilst it was on a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula.”
“The search and rescue team has located the crash site of the An-26 aircraft.
According to reports from the scene, the six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed,” TASS quoted the ministry.
