The crash of an Antonov An-26 military transport plane in Syria killed 27 officers, including a major general, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“The tragedy claimed lives of 27 officers, among them a major general, as well as warrant officers and contract servicemen,” the ministry said.
There was not a single civilian onboard the An-26, it said.
The media said Maj. Gen. Vladimir Yeremeyev died in the crash.
The ministry said earlier that the An-26 crashed during the approach for landing on the Hmeimim airfield at about 3 p.m. Moscow time on March 6. The plane hit the ground some 500 meters away from the runway. According to tentative information, the crash might have been caused by a technical malfunction.
