The ministry was cited as saying that the plane crashed at Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province and that initial information suggested the crash may have been caused by a technical fault.
All those on board, 26 passengers and six crew members, were killed.
The statement from the Russian defence ministry said: “Around 3pm Moscow time (12pm GMT), a Russian An-26 transport aircraft crashed while coming in for landing at the Khmeimim airbase.
“All those on board died in the incident.”
The Russian military added the plane hit the ground some 500 meters from the runway and it did not come under fire before the incident.
More to follow…