Russian Military Plane Crash in Crimea Kills 29, Defense Ministry Reports

A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed in Crimea on Tuesday evening, resulting in the deaths of at least 29 people, according to reports from Russian state news agencies citing the Defense Ministry.

The aircraft, which was conducting a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula, lost contact with military officials around 6 p.m., Russian authorities stated. The plane reportedly collided with a cliff in the mountainous Bakhchisarai district, sources at the crash site told state outlets Tass and RIA Novosti.

Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed that a total of seven crew members and 23 passengers were on board at the time of the accident. While initial reports specified six crew members had died, it was unclear from official statements if any survivors were among the crew. The committee has launched a criminal probe focusing on possible violations of flight regulations, and search operations are ongoing in the remote forested area where the crash occurred.

The Defense Ministry, as quoted by the Interfax news agency, indicated that a suspected technical malfunction may have led to the crash. Authorities added that no "damaging interference" was detected with the aircraft.

The incident adds to a pattern of military aviation accidents in Russia since the escalation of the conflict with Ukraine. Previous crashes include an An-22 in the Ivanovo region, and other recent losses involving MiG-31 and Su-34 fighter jets.

As of Wednesday morning, investigation teams remain at the scene and have yet to release further details regarding survivors or the complete circumstances surrounding the crash.