More information emerges after Ukrainian military transport plane crashes near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

Breaking update: More information emerges after a Ukrainian military transport plane crashes near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

The ‘An-26’ crashed while performing a “technical flight”, killing one person and injuring two.

UPDATE 11.11 pm (April 22) – MORE information has emerged regarding the Ukrainian military transport plane that crashed near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine at around 9 am (local time) on Friday, April 22.

According to an investigation launched following the crash, it was revealed that the incident was caused by fog and low altitude, which caused the aircraft to hit some high-voltage power lines.

A statement from the Zaporizhzhia Oblast State Administration revealed that there were only three people on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. The plane’s flight engineer died while the two other crew members were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

After the accident, law enforcement officers opened a criminal investigation into the violation of traffic safety rules or operation of air transport (Part 3 of Article 276 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The penalty for breaching these rules comes with a prison sentence of five to ten years, as reported by hromadske.ua.

A video from the scene – featuring ZOVA spokesman Ivan Arefiev – and three further pictures were released from the crash site.

UPDATE: 1.41 pm (April 22) – THE first picture from the Ukrainian military plane crash site has been released. The plane crashed near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine at around 9 am (local time) on Friday, April 22.

The photo was shared by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. It shows the front half of the Antonov An-26 with a damaged nose and the aircraft completely split in two. Plane debris is shown scattered across the grass.

Prior to the Ukrainian plane crash, reports from the Ukrainian military suggested that they had managed to destroy 15 Russian air targets.

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces via Facebook, three Russian planes, three Russian helicopters and nine Russian OTP UAVs were taken down.

“April 21 is a truly fruitful day for Ukrainian air defences, as 15 air targets have been destroyed at once,” a statement said.

UPDATE 11.01 am (April 22) – Multiple casualties have been reported after a Ukrainian military transport plane crashed near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine at around 9 am (local time) on Friday, April 22.

In an update released via the regional military administration, it was revealed that one person has been killed as a result of the crash and two have been injured. It is unknown at this time whether these figures are likely to rise.

A statement from the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration said: “Today at 09:00 in the area of ​​Mikhailovka of the Zaporizhzhia area the AN-26 plane which, according to preliminary information, belonged to Ukraine crashed.

“The aircraft was performing a technical flight. It is currently known that one person was killed and two were injured. The number of crew and the reasons for the fall are being clarified.

“According to preliminary and unconfirmed information, the plane hit an electric pole, as a result of which the engine caught fire. The SES and relevant bodies are working at the scene.”

ORGINAL 10.19 am (April 22) – A UKRAINIAN military transport plane crashes in southern Ukraine, believed to be near Zaporizhzhia, according to local authorities on Friday, April 22.

The ‘An-26’ reportedly crashed in the Volnyansky district, in the Zaporizhzhia region, while performing a “technical flight”.

The regional military administration has reportedly confirmed that there have been casualties.

A statement from the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration said: “An An-26 aircraft crashed in the Vilnianskyi district of the Zaporizhzhya region today. The aircraft was on a technical flight. There were casualties. The circumstances are being investigated. More details to follow.”

The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1986.

The Zaporizhzhia region has been subjected to numerous attacks from Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion on February 24.

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