The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the incident and reported that all 15 people on board, including eight crew members and seven passengers, are presumed dead.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Social media channels circulated videos showing a burning plane in the sky before the crash. One outlet, Baza, alleges the plane's engine caught fire shortly after takeoff. There is no official confirmation regarding any potential external factors contributing to the accident.

The crash coincides with other events in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, including alleged Ukrainian drone strikes within Russia and a reported incursion by a Russian anti-Kremlin militia across the Ukrainian border. A Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson attributed these incidents to "Russia's military aggression" but stopped short of claiming responsibility.

This accident raises concerns about the safety of Russia's domestic airline industry. Since the start of the war in Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, Russia has witnessed a rise in aviation accidents and emergency landings. These sanctions restrict the export of vital aircraft parts and technology, hindering maintenance and limiting flight routes primarily to domestic destinations.

Russia's aviation safety woes were further highlighted in May 2023 when Kommersant, a state-controlled media outlet, reported over 2,000 flights conducted by airplanes using expired parts. The country subsequently filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in October 2023, claiming the sanctions endanger international civil aviation safety. (ILKHA)