Russian military aircraft crashes in Syria, 32 dead

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.