A Russian Antonov-26 military aircraft has crashed while flying over the occupied Crimean peninsula, leaving all 29 people on board dead, according to reports from state media.
The incident, reported by TASS on Wednesday, was confirmed by Russia’s defence ministry, which said the aircraft went down near the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysaray district of Crimea.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, the An-26 aircraft was on a scheduled flight when it suddenly crashed on 31 March 2026. The committee said there were seven crew members and 23 passengers on board.
“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,” the statement read, adding that a probe into possible flight safety violations has now been opened.
The defence ministry said contact with the military transport aircraft was lost at around 18:00 Moscow time while it was flying over the peninsula.
Search and rescue teams later located the wreckage of the aircraft. TASS reported, quoting officials, that all six crew members and 23 passengers on board died in the crash.
Preliminary reports suggest there were no signs of external damage to the aircraft, raising the possibility of a technical failure. However, authorities say investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Crimea, which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, has remained under Russian administration since then.
