One of two survivors in Ukrainian military plane’s crash dies - UPDATED-1

One of two survivors in Ukrainian military plane’s crash dies - UPDATED-1
# 26 September 2020 12:18 (UTC +04:00)

One of two Ukrainian cadets, who survived after the An-26 military transport plane crashed on Friday in the Kharkov region, died in hospital, the Ukrainian Emergencies Situations Service said on Saturday, APA reports citing TASS.

"As of 10:50 a.m. the person, who was in critical condition in hospital after the plane crash, died," the service said.

***02:29

The death toll from a military plane crash reached 25, according to a statement by the chief prosecutor in Ukraine early Saturday.

The prosecutor’s office said an investigation has been launched into the crash of an AN-26 type military plane near Kharkiv that also severely injured two people, APA reports quoting. Anadolu Agency.

Kharkiv Governor Oleksiy Kucher said the plane crashed while landing and the those who were injured jumped from the aircraft as it approached the ground.

Kucher also said the pilot notified officials before the crash that the left engine was not working, however, details would be learned from the investigation.

It was reported that crew members and Kharkiv University of Air Force students were aboard.

The State Emergency Service previously said 22 people were killed, two injured and four were missing but an update listed 27 people onboard.

The AN-26 aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine crashed at 9.55 p.m. (1855GMT) near the military airport in the northeastern area of Chuguiv before catching fire, the service said earlier.

***

A military transport plane carrying air force cadets crashed and burst into flames near a highway in northeastern Ukraine on Friday evening, killing at least 22 people on board, officials said, APA reports quoting Reuters.

The Antonov An-26 aircraft crashed while trying to land during a training exercise, the General Staff of the Armed Forces Ruslan Khomchak said in a statement, adding that at least two more people were critically injured.

Video posted by Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko on Facebook showed the plane in flames lying near a road and smoke billowing upwards in the night sky.

Pictures taken later showed rescue workers inspecting the wreckage near the town of Chuhuiv.

An investigation has started on what caused the crash.

One pilot reported failure in the left engine of the twin-engined plane, said Oleksiy Kucher, the governor of the Kharkiv region, according to Interfax Ukraine, adding this would not have been a critical situation for an experienced pilot.

Citing preliminary information, Kucher said that some of the people on board managed to jump out of the plane when it was at low altitude. An eyewitness cited by the Ukraine 24 news channel also said people had jumped out.

#
#

THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED