Russian general killed in Crimea plane crash

Lieutenant General Alexander Otroshchenko, commander of the Northern Fleet’s mixed aviation corps, is believed to have been killed in the crash of an An-26 military aircraft in Crimea. The information was reported by a source from BBC Russian and confirmed by a resident of Severomorsk, whose relative was among the victims.

The aircraft crashed on the evening of 31 March near the village of Kuybyshevo after losing contact. Seven crew members and 23 passengers were on board, all of whom are presumed dead. The Russian Ministry of Defence said they were soldiers of the Northern Fleet and that the preliminary cause of the crash was a technical malfunction. According to a source cited by the TASS news agency, the aircraft crashed into a cliff.

The Investigative Committee has opened criminal proceedings over a possible violation of flight rules or their preparation. Information about the possible presence of the general on board emerged only on Thursday.

A few days before the crash, Otroshchenko had attended an event at the Northern Fleet’s Maritime Museum. A post with photographs of him appeared on the VKontakte social network, but was later edited and the reference to him removed.

(max)