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34 fatalities

Charter Flight Crash Near Balad Air Force Base (ER-26068)

Balad, IraqLanding (descent or approach)

On January 9, 2007, an Antonov AN-26 (registration ER-26068) operated by Aeriantur-M was involved in an aviation accident near Balad, Iraq during landing or approach. 34 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the accident and the exact position of the aircraft during the last segment could not be determined with certainty as the FDR was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A charter aircraft crashed while attempting a second approach at Balad AFB, killing 34 occupants and seriously injuring one passenger. The official investigation could not determine the exact cause due to a missing flight data recorder.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft was operating a charter flight from Adana, Turkey, to Balad Air Force Base, located 70 kilometers north of Baghdad. The flight carried 30 workers from Moldova, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine on behalf of the Turkish reconstruction company Kulak. The aircraft departed Adana Airport at 0600 local time for a planned 90-minute flight. During the approach, the crew encountered poor visibility caused by fog. Unable to locate the runway, the captain initiated a go-around. Minutes later, while attempting a second approach, the aircraft descended too low and crashed 2.5 kilometers short of the runway, bursting into flames. One passenger was seriously injured, and 34 other occupants were killed. ## Investigation Findings The official investigation stated that the cause of the accident and the exact position of the aircraft during the final segment could not be determined with certainty because the flight data recorder was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Probable cause

The cause of the accident and the exact position of the aircraft during the last segment could not be determined with certainty as the FDR was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Jan 2007 Antonov AN-26 accident near Balad, Iraq?

A charter aircraft crashed while attempting a second approach at Balad AFB, killing 34 occupants and seriously injuring one passenger. The official investigation could not determine the exact cause due to a missing flight data recorder.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Jan 2007 Antonov AN-26 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 34 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Jan 2007 involved an Antonov AN-26, registration ER-26068, operated by Aeriantur-M, at Balad, Iraq.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The cause of the accident and the exact position of the aircraft during the last segment could not be determined with certainty as the FDR was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident.

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