In the east of Ukraine on Friday night, the country’s Air Force plane “An-26” crashed, killing 25 people and killing two, the civil protection administration in Kiev said.
The plane landed in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, in preparation for landing at that city ‘s airport. Both survivors, who had jumped off the plane and were seriously injured, were found and rescued at the crash site.
It is estimated that there were a total of 27 people on board – seven crew members and 20 students of the Kharkiv National Air Force University.
Initially, 28 people were reported on the plane, but it was later found that one student had not arrived on the flight. At least 22 deaths were initially reported, but their numbers were subsequently clarified.
Photos posted on social media showed an airplane wreck burning in the dark.
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Alexei Kucera confirmed that there were survivors and deaths in the accident and announced that he was going to the scene. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to visit it on Saturday.
The news of the accident during the training flight was also confirmed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The cause has not yet been determined, but Kucher said that one of the aircraft’s engines had failed.
The site of the disaster is about 40 kilometers from the Russian border in eastern Ukraine, but outside the war zone there.
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, who visited Ukraine for the first time this week, expressed his condolences on Twitter to the families of the disaster victims and to the President of Ukraine.
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