Ukraine

Ukraine crash survivor dies as toll climbs to 26

Agence France-Presse

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Ukraine crash survivor dies as toll climbs to 26

Military and experts work on the place of the Antonov-26 transport aircraft crash at Chuhuiv military air base around 30 kilometers southeast of Kharkiv on September 26, 2020. - 23 people including military cadets were killed when a Ukranian air force plane crashed near Kharkiv in the east of the country. The Antonov-26 transport plane was carrying 20 cadets and seven crew when it crashed late on September 25 two kilometres (about one mile) from the Chuguiv military air base near the city of Kharkiv. (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP)

AFP

25 die on the spot

One of the two survivors of a Ukrainian military plane crash died in hospital as the death toll climbed to 26 on Saturday, September 26, after three more bodies were found.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the scene of the tragedy near the eastern city of Kharkiv where an Antonov-26 transport plane carrying 20 young cadets and seven crew members crashed Friday evening.

The plane burst into flames on landing around two kilometers (more than one mile) from Chuguiv military air base. Firefighters extinguished the blaze after an hour.

Twenty-two were confirmed dead and two people survived. On Saturday three more bodies were found and one of the two survivors died in hospital.

“Ukraine has lost 26 worthy sons,” Zelensky posted on Facebook, declaring Saturday a day of mourning.

“Twenty five died on the spot,” he said, adding one more cadet died in hospital from extensive burns.

“It is difficult to find words to express the pain of this loss.” 

Zelensky said the cause of the crash should be quickly established and called for an “objective” investigation.

Ukraine’s SBU security service said the plane was performing a training flight but the cadets of the Kharkiv National Air Force University were not involved in piloting it.

The security service, citing preliminary information, said the pilot reported an engine failure and seven minutes later the plane hit the ground.

Defense Minister Andriy Taran said “the plane likely caught the ground with its wing” and then caught fire.

“Everything went according to plan: the plane was performing a training flight for cadets,” he was quoted as saying by the defense ministry.

He said the instructor was at the wheel and cadets took turns to sit next to the pilot.

Taran said the plane was made in 1977 but was in a good condition. 

A number of foreign leaders including Polish President Andrzej Duda, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell expressed their condolences.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the cadets, officers, and crew killed and injured in the An-26 plane crash,” the US embassy in Ukraine said on Facebook. – Rappler.com

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