Charter Flight Shot Down Over Sukhumi Bay (4L-65893)

Incident Overview and Flight Details The aircraft was operating a charter flight from Sochi to Sukhumi. The passenger manifest included foreign and Russian journalists. During the final approach to Babushara Airport, the aircraft was at an altitude of 300 meters when it was struck by a surface-to-air Strela missile. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the bay of Sukhumi, approximately 4 kilometers offshore. All 27 people on board were killed in the incident. ## Official Investigation Findings The official investigation determined that the aircraft was shot down by a Strela missile. The missile was fired by Abkhazi separatists who were operating from a patrol boat.