What happened
The incident occurred during a return leg from a supply mission to troops stationed in western Belarus. While flying back to base, the captain perceived an attack by enemy fighters. In response, the pilot executed a maneuver to evade the perceived threat by descending to very low altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and crashed into a wooded area located 500 meters north of Ploskina. The impact caused the plane to catch fire. Three crew members were killed in the accident, while three others sustained injuries.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the crash resulted from the captain's decision to continue flying at very low altitude without ground reference. This action was taken during nighttime conditions with poor visibility, which contributed to the loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain.