2015 Syrian Air Force An-26 crash

{{Update|date=February 2024}}

{{Expand Portuguese|topic=Acidente do Antonov An-26 da Força Aérea da Síria|date=February 2025}}{{Short description|Aviation accident in Syria}}

{{Infobox aircraft occurrence

| name = 2015 Syrian Air Force An-26 crash

| image = Hungarian Air Force Antonov An-26 departs RIAT 14thJuly2014 arp.jpg

| image_upright = 1.1

| alt =

| caption = An Antonov An-26 similar to the aircraft involved

| occurrence_type = Accident or shootdown

| date = {{Start date|2015|01|18|df=y}}

| summary = Under investigation {{update inline|date=February 2024}}

| site = Abu al-Duhur military airport, Idlib Governorate, Syria

| coordinates = {{Coord| 35|44|1.56|N|37|6|14.08|E|type:event|display=inline,title}}

| aircraft_type = Antonov An-26

| aircraft_name =

| operator = {{air force|SYR}}

| tail_number = YK-AND

| origin =

| destination = Abu al-Duhur military airport, Idlib Governorate, Syria

| occupants = 35

| passengers = 29

| crew = 6

| fatalities = 35

| survivors = 0

}}

{{Campaignbox Syrian uprising}}

On 18 January 2015, an Antonov An-26 operated by the Syrian Air Force crashed with no survivors while attempting to land at the besieged Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib Governorate, Syria. The plane was carrying troops as well as military equipment and ammunition.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0118/673600-at-least-35-people-killed-in-syrian-plane-crash/|title=At least 35 people killed in Syrian military plane crash|work=rte.ie|date=18 January 2015|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225193344/https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0118/673600-at-least-35-people-killed-in-syrian-plane-crash/|url-status=live}} There were 35 people on board, 30 Syrian soldiers and 5 Iranian military experts.{{cite news| url=http://www.planecrashes.org/syrian-air-force-crash-37-people-died.html| title=Syrian Air Force plane crash 201 - 37 people died| date=2015-01-18| publisher=PlaneCrashes.org| access-date=2015-03-27| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622044511/http://www.planecrashes.org/syrian-air-force-crash-37-people-died.html| archive-date=2015-06-22| url-status=usurped}}

Syrian state media and the SOHR said that the crash was due to heavy fog or "technical issues"{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30873059|title=Syria conflict: Army 'plane crash' kills 35 soldiers|date=2015-01-18|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-21|archive-date=2017-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914182244/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30873059|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/01/18/35-killed-in-Syrian-military-plane-crash-al-Qaida-claims-credit/7781421612869/|title=Syrian military plane crash kills 35, al-Qaida claims credit|work=UPI|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225193349/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/01/18/35-killed-in-Syrian-military-plane-crash-al-Qaida-claims-credit/7781421612869/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/idlib-cargo-jet-crashes-outside-abu-dhuhour-airbase-30-dead/|title=Idlib: Cargo Jet Crashes Outside of Abu Dhuhour Airbase - 30 Dead|author=Leith Fadel|work=Al-Masdar News|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225193352/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/idlib-cargo-jet-crashes-outside-abu-dhuhour-airbase-30-dead/|url-status=dead}} and that the plane hit an electricity pylon.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37593:al-qaeda-says-downs-syrian-cargo-plane-army-says-fog-causes-crash&catid=115:middle-east|title=Al Qaeda says downs Syrian cargo plane, army says fog causes crash|work=defenceweb.co.za|date=19 January 2015|access-date=5 February 2015|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225193353/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37593:al-qaeda-says-downs-syrian-cargo-plane-army-says-fog-causes-crash&catid=115:middle-east|url-status=live}} However, Al-Qaeda affiliated group Al-Nusra Front claimed that they shot it down.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-plane-idUSKBN0KR09420150118|title=Al Qaeda says downs Syrian cargo plane, army says fog causes crash|date=2015-01-18|publisher=Reuters|access-date=2021-07-05|archive-date=2016-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305125759/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-plane-idUSKBN0KR09420150118|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150118-0|title=ASN 20150118|date=2015-01-18|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=2015-03-27|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225193357/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150118-0|url-status=live}}

Syrian media provided a list with the names of the 30 Syrian soldiers who were killed. The commander of the Syrian army division, Colonel Hussein Al-Yousif, was among those listed killed. Per SOHR, 13 Syrian officers were among the fatalities.{{cite web|url=http://syriahr.com/en/2015/01/11-military-leaders-from-militia-of-hezbollah-and-the-iranian-revolutionary-guards-die-over-the-last-24-hours/ |title=11 military leaders from militia of Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards die over the last 24 hours |author=sohranas |work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights |access-date=24 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123125825/http://syriahr.com/en/2015/01/11-military-leaders-from-militia-of-hezbollah-and-the-iranian-revolutionary-guards-die-over-the-last-24-hours/ |archive-date=23 January 2015 }}