Investigation Summary
On the night of January 18, 2015, a military transport aircraft was performing a logistics mission to the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase, which was at the time surrounded by rebel forces during the Syrian Civil War. The region was experiencing severe weather, characterized by heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility. During the approach to the runway, the Antonov An-26 collided with a high-tension electricity pylon, causing it to crash. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed that the crash occurred near the airbase and resulted in the deaths of all occupants, including 13 high-ranking Syrian officers. The Al-Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate active in the area, released claims and imagery asserting they had downed the plane, though these claims were countered by official state reports citing environmental factors and technical failure.
Final Conclusions
The crash was officially attributed by Syrian state media to a combination of heavy fog and technical issues, leading to a collision with an electricity pylon. All 35 individuals on board, including Colonel Hussein Al-Yousif, were killed. The investigation was complicated by the ongoing conflict and the location of the crash site in contested territory.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Antonov An-26
A twin-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed for short and medium-range routes.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash occurred during a period of heavy fog which severely limited visibility at the airbase.
- 02The aircraft struck an electricity pylon during its final approach.
- 03All 35 people on board were Syrian military personnel, including at least 13 officers and 6 crew members.
- 04The crash site was located in the Idlib Governorate, a region then under heavy contest during the Syrian Civil War.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Cause of Downing
Reference ↗While Syrian state media and the SOHR attributed the crash to weather and a collision with a pylon, the Al-Nusra Front claimed they shot the aircraft down.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the reference point of the airport named in the location, not the point of impact. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.