Russian cargo plane crashes in Syria, killing 32, military says

A Russian cargo plane crashed in Syria on Tuesday, killing all 32 people onboard, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

The An-26 plane crashed while attempting to land at Khmeimim Air Base, located near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia. The plane, carrying 26 passengers and six crew members, was 1,600 feet from the runway.

The military said preliminary reports indicated the deadly crash was caused by a technical error.

“The plane was not shot down,” the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported, according to Russia’s REN TV. 

Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, leases a military base in Syria near the Mediterranean coast.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.