Moscow, 13 July– A Russian military transport plane crashed while taking off from an airbase in the Ivanovo region of western Russia, resulting in the deaths of 15 passengers on board. The tragic incident occurred on Friday (July 12), according to a report by the news agency AP, citing information from Russia's Ministry of Defense.

The ill-fated aircraft, identified as an IL-76, had eight crew members and seven passengers at the time of the crash. The Ministry of Defense reported that the plane’s engine caught fire during takeoff, which is believed to be the cause of the accident.

Ivanovo's governor, Stanislav Voskresensky, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, acknowledging the profound loss experienced by the community.

A team has been dispatched to the crash site in Ivanovo to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, as authorities seek to determine the exact circumstances that led to the engine fire and subsequent crash.