2018 Russian Air Force Antonov An-26 crash

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence On 6 March 2018, an Antonov An-26 military transport plane crashed while approaching Khmeimim air base in Syria, resulting in the deaths of all 39 individuals on board. The passengers and crew were exclusively members of the Russian Armed Forces, including Major-General Vladimir Yeremeyev.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-26 with registration RF-92955 and manufacturer's serial number 10107. Its maiden flight took place in 1980. This incident marked the fifteenth fatal crash involving an An-26 during this decade, cumulatively accounting for 159 fatalities; notably, none of these flights were conducted as scheduled commercial passenger services.

Accident

On the day of the crash, the plane was reportedly carrying Russian military personnel stationed in Syria from Kuweires Military Airbase to Khmeimim air base.

At approximately 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC), the aircraft went down during its final approach roughly 500 meters from the runway at Khmeimim air base, causing the loss of all 39 occupants—33 passengers and six crew members. Eyewitness accounts and official statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense dismissed any suggestion that the aircraft had been shot down. Initial findings pointed to a technical failure as the probable cause. In response, both the Investigative Committee of Russia and the Russian Military Prosecutor's Office initiated criminal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Allegations of Shootdown

The militant faction Jaysh al-Islam subsequently asserted responsibility for the incident; as reported by Ad-Diyar, five fighters fired heavy machine guns at the plane when it was approximately 100 meters above the ground. However, doubts have been raised about the authenticity of this claim, given that the group, along with others, has a history of making opportunistic assertions.

Cause

The crash resulted from a Wind shear event occurring during the final approach stage, which caused the aircraft to lose control and crash before reaching the runway.