What happened
During an approach to Akhtubinsk Airport, the pilot-in-command performed a go-around for reasons that remain undetermined. Following this maneuver, air traffic controllers directed the crew to execute a right-hand turn prior to entering the downwind leg of the landing circuit. While the An-26 was maintaining a relatively low altitude south of the airfield, it was struck by an air-to-air missile launched from a Soviet Air Force MiG-23. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, leading to a crash south of the airport. There were eight fatalities in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the MiG-23 pilot was engaged in a training exercise involving a helicopter target located south of Akhtubinsk Airport. The primary cause of the tragedy was incorrect instructions provided by air traffic control, which directed the crew to turn into a restricted military zone. Additional contributing factors included a significant lack of coordination between civil and military authorities, as well as the fact that the crews of the An-26 and the MiG-23 were operating on different radio frequencies.