Image by Russian Ministry of Defence

A Russian transport plane has crashed at Hmeymim Air Base near Latakia, Syria, killing all 32 souls on board, reports Russian news outlet RIA Novoste.

“According to preliminary data, there were 26 passengers and six crew members on board, all of them were killed. The accident occurred at the approach to landing at the airfield Khmeimim, around 15:00 Moscow time. The plane collided with the ground, not reaching about five hundred meters before the runway,” wrote RIA.

Twenty-six passengers and six crew were aboard the aircraft. Initial findings suggest a technical problem with the aircraft.

“The department added that, “according to the report from the place, there was no fire impact on the plane.”