Military plane carrying air force cadets crashes in Ukraine killing 26

A military plane carrying air force cadets has crashed in Ukraine killing 26 people.

The Antonov An-26 aircraft burst into flames while trying to land during a training exercise near a highway in the town of Chuguyiv, close to Kharkiv, on Friday evening.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said 27 people had been on board the plane – seven crew members and 20 students. Only one cadet managed to survive.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday the causes of the crash would be investigated promptly and impartially.

He said on Facebook: ‘Yesterday, as a result of a terrible tragedy Ukraine lost 26 of its worthy sons.

‘I insist that the causes of this plane crash be promptly clarified and that the investigation be objective and impartial.’

He declared Saturday a day of mourning.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said that the black boxes with flight data had been found.

Authorities are now investigating four possible causes of the crash – a technical malfunction involving the aircraft; improper performance by the crew; improper performance by flight control; and inadequate maintenance.

The State Security Service, a Ukrainian law enforcement agency, said the plane crashed five minutes after the crew commander asked to land after one of the aircraft’s two engines failed.

In a statement the agency added: ‘According to the preliminary information, the cadets did not directly control the aircraft – all flights were performed by the crew commander.’

The crash happened just over a mile from a military airport.

The cadets were from the Kharkiv University of the Air Force, which is run by the defence ministry.

Training flights on similar types of aircraft have been suspended, the government said.

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