Ukraine military plane crash: Cadets among at least 25 people

At least 25 people, most of them air cadets, have been killed in a military plane crash in Ukraine, officials say.

Antonov-26, the plane came close to the eastern city of Kharkiv.

The plane had 20 cadets from Kharkiv Air Force University and was on a training flight. Nineteen people were killed – two were seriously injured.

The cause of the accident is being investigated. Officials say preliminary findings indicate the cadets were not flying when the plane crashed.

The emergency ministry said the plane was about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the military airport in the city of Chuhiv.

There is no suggestion that the crash is linked to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Chuhaiv is about 100 km (60 miles) from the front line where government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists.

The fire was contained at the scene and was later contained.

An eyewitness told the Reuters news agency that he had seen a man in a loud voice.

“The other car stopped behind us. We took the fire extinguisher and ran with another driver to help him.”

In a statement on Saturday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said one of the surviving cadets was in critical condition.

The statement added: “According to preliminary findings, the cadets did not control the aircraft directly – the crew captain operated all the flights. After completing part of the flight at 20:38 (17:38 GMT), he reported to the flight commander. Left The engine failed, got off at 20:40, passed an external marker at 20:43 and disaster struck at 20:40. “

The Ukrainian Air Force Command said on Facebook that the flight recorder is located, but has not yet been recovered.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the region on Saturday.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had a map that was incorrect. We apologize for the error.