What happened
During a nighttime final approach to Luhansk Airport, a four-engine transport aircraft was struck by an anti-aircraft weapon. The aircraft was transporting a variety of cargo, including furniture, equipment, and supplies, alongside a group of 40 paratroopers and a crew of 9.
Upon being hit by an 'Igla' surface-to-air missile, the plane crashed into a wheat field situated approximately 20 km southeast of Luhansk, near the village of Novohannivka. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were 49 fatalities in the accident, as all occupants on board perished.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicate that the aircraft was shot down by a man-portable air-defense system used by pro-Russian rebel forces during the flight's descent phase.