MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The AN-26 Curl transport plane of the Russian Navy that crashed in the Arkhangelsk region Thursday evening was carrying the command of the 574th missile carrying naval aviation regiment and 215 kilograms of cargo for the Northern Fleet.
The plane took off from Kipelovo airstrip in the Vologda region for Lakhta airstrip in the Arkhangelsk region, an official in the Russian Navy Staff told Interfax on Friday. It took over five tonnes of fuel in Kipelovo, he said.
The crew of the plane was very well trained, the official said. Crew commander Major Yegor Kozyrev has a total of over 2,00 flying hours, including over 600 hours as crew commander. Instructor pilot Colonel Valery Popkov has a total of over 4,000 flying hours. He is a chief inspector in the flight security department of the Northern Fleet aviation.
The plane fell on the ground 1,400 meters short of the runway in Lakhta airport. It did not catch fire upon falling, the official stressed.
According to official statistics provided by the Defense Ministry, the crash killed 17 people and injured three. The AN-26 carried eight crew members and 12 passengers.