A Russian Antonov-26 military aircraft has crashed while flying over the occupied Crimean peninsula, killing 29 people, according to the TASS.
The aircraft went down near the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysaray district on Wednesday, with Russia’s defence ministry reporting that contact with the plane was lost at around 18:00 Moscow time during a scheduled flight.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the crash and said it had opened a probe into possible flight safety violations, although it did not immediately confirm the death toll.
According to officials cited by TASS, the aircraft was carrying seven crew members and 23 passengers when it crashed. The defence ministry later reported that all 29 people on board were killed after the wreckage was located by search and rescue teams.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has administered it as part of its territory since then.
Early reports indicated that no external damage was found on the wreckage, suggesting that a technical failure may have caused the crash. Investigations into the exact cause are ongoing.