When a Russian military aircraft crashed in Syria, 39 people died. Initially, 32 deaths were mentioned, and later Defense Ministry corrected claim to 39. The incident occurred at Air Force Base Hamaimim, reported news agency Tass, citing Russian Ministry of Defence. The cause of crash was, according to Russian military, a technical problem, fire did not exist.
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The aircraft was an Antonov An-26 freighter. When approaching base in province of Latakia, it was pitched 500 metres from runway. The occupants – six members of crew and 26 passengers – were killed. “They are all dead,” it was said in a press release by Russian Ministry of Defence.
It is already second serious accident of Russian air force in Syria deployment. At end of 2016, 92 people died when a passenger machine crashed over Black Sea. Several fighter jets and helicopters have also lost Russia in Syria.
Russia has been fighting in Syrian civil war since 2015 on side of Syrian government against terrorist militia “Islamic State” and rebel groups. The Russian military mainly flies air strikes in support of Syrian Army. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said on role of his country last week, Russian military operation in Syria has shown that Russian military is at level of time.
