What happened
During a reconnaissance flight intended to monitor militant positions in eastern Ukraine, an aircraft was targeted by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) while operating over the Slavyansk region. The missile impact struck the right engine, triggering an immediate fire.
In the moments following the strike, three members of the crew managed to successfully bail out of the aircraft. These individuals were later located and survived the incident, though they sustained injuries.
Following the engine fire, the aircraft became uncontrollable and entered a steep dive. The plane eventually crashed into an open field situated in Drobyshevo, positioned between the settlements of Krasny Liman and Nikolayevka. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. All five occupants on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the crash was a surface-to-air missile strike that compromised the aircraft's right engine and led to an unrecoverable descent.