By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW (AA) – A Russian military transport aircraft An-26 has crashed in Syria while landing at the Hmeimim airport, killing all 32 people on board, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
A total of 26 passengers and six crew members were aboard, all of whom died, the ministry said in a written statement.
The plane collided with the ground just 500 meters from the runway, it said.
Technical malfunction is being considered as a reason for the crash, it added.
A special commission of the Defense Ministry was examining all possibilities into the crash.