2015 Syrian Air Force An-26 crash
On 18 January 2015, an Antonov An-26 operated by the Syrian Air Force crashed with no survivors while attempting to land at the besieged Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib Governorate, Syria. The plane was carrying troops as well as military equipment and ammunition. There were 35 people on board, 30 Syrian soldiers and 5 Iranian military experts.
An Antonov An-26 similar to the aircraft involved | |
| Accident or shootdown | |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 January 2015 |
| Summary | Under investigation |
| Site | Abu al-Duhur military airport, Idlib Governorate, Syria 35°44′1.56″N 37°6′14.08″E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Antonov An-26 |
| Operator | Syrian Arab Air Force |
| Registration | YK-AND |
| Destination | Abu al-Duhur military airport, Idlib Governorate, Syria |
| Occupants | 35 |
| Passengers | 29 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 35 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Syrian state media and the SOHR said that the crash was due to heavy fog or "technical issues" and that the plane hit an electricity pylon. However, Al-Qaeda affiliated group Al-Nusra Front claimed that they shot it down.
Syrian media provided a list with the names of the 30 Syrian soldiers who were killed. The commander of the Syrian army division, Colonel Hussein Al-Yousif, was among those listed killed. Per SOHR, 13 Syrian officers were among the fatalities.