The crash of a Russian Aerospace Force (VKS) Ilyushin Il-76 freighter left 15 people dead this Tuesday morning (12), in the Ivanovo region. Images of the accident show the aircraft with one of its engines on fire before crashing in the area northeast of the capital Moscow.
According to eyewitnesses, the military freighter had just taken off when it suffered a birdstrike – a collision with birds – in the right wing engine, which caught fire.
Russian Il-76 crashes near Ivanovo, 200 km north-east of Moscow. 12 Russians were reportedly on board. pic.twitter.com/YuVfa3Lixk
- Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) March 12, 2024
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An Il-76 Transport Aircraft with the Russian Air Force has reportedly Crashed to the North of Moscow in the Ivanovo Region, after an Engine Malfunction occurred shortly after Takeoff from Severny Airfield; 8 Crew and 7 engers are said to have been Killed in the Crash. pic.twitter.com/fdol55gkZA
- OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 12, 2024
Just before the plane impacted the ground, the engine detached from the pylon that connects it to the wing, as seen in the video below. The aircraft crashed near a cemetery in the village of Bogorodskoye.
⚡️⚡️ A video has appeared showing how the engine of an Il-76 crashed in Ivanovo fell off. pic.twitter.com/ZdLESRFhbC
- NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 12, 2024
A spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed to the agency TASS that the jet was occupied by seven engers and eight crew and all of them died in the accident. He also states that a team is already investigating the causes of the accident.
The accident just over a month ago after the crash of another Il-76, in a Russian region on the border with Ukraine. On that occasion, Moscow said the jet was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Ivanovo region is located more than 700 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
About Il-76
The Il-76 is a military strategic transport jet aircraft developed by Ilysuhin and manufactured by Aviastar and the Tashkent Aviation Production Association. It was designed in the 1960s to perform where the Antonov An-12 turboprop could not. It received the NATO designation Candid.
It is powered by four Soloviev D-30KP engines, but an upgraded version (Il-76MD-90A) received the more economical and powerful Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 turbofans. Depending on the version, the jet can carry between 42 and 60 tons of cargo. The Il-76 was also adapted to perform early warning (radar) and in-flight refueling (tanker) functions.
Although initially intended for military use, the Ilysuhin Il-76 was also acquired by a series of civilian companies, mainly from countries aligned with the former Soviet Union. More than 900 Il-76s were produced.
