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Crash Kills 29 in Crimea
A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea, killing all 29 people aboard.
“The An-26 aircraft crashed into a cliff, killing all 29 people on board”
The Defense Ministry confirmed 23 passengers and six crew members were killed.
Initial assessments suggest a technical failure may have caused the crash.
Investigative Committee Opens Probe
Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed the crash.
It launched a criminal probe into a flight safety violation.
The An-26 has been involved in several deadly crashes in recent years.
Crash Highlights Frequent Russian Military Failures
The crash adds to a series of Russian military aircraft accidents since 2022.
“Accidents involving Russian military planes have been frequent since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine”
Russia's aging fleet and poor maintenance have increased risks.
The military operates under extreme war conditions with stretched resources.
Critics Say Invasion Weighs on Capabilities
The strains of the Ukraine war have exacerbated underlying issues.
The crash was part of a larger problem of poor maintenance and pressures of sustained operations.
