Soviet Plane Hits Peak; 17 Die in 2nd Air Crash in 3 Days
A Soviet Ilyushin 76 transport plane slammed into a mountain in the southern republic of Armenia on Friday, killing all 17 people aboard, in the second crash in three days involving that type of aircraft.
Soviet television said the aircraft was carrying building materials from the Volga city of Ulyanovsk to Leninakan, Armenia’s second largest city, which was devastated by last December’s earthquake.
The plane crashed just 12 miles short of the airport. The government newspaper Izvestia said seven crew members, three trainee crew members and seven passengers died.
No reason was given for the accident and a government commission was set up to investigate.
On Wednesday, an Ilyushin 76 carrying troops in the republic of Azerbaijan plunged into the Caspian Sea, killing all 57 people on board.
Troops have been sent in increasing numbers to the neighboring republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan to deal with increased violence over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. At least 120 people have died in 20 months of unrest in the region.
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