On Saturday night, a Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) cargo jet was preparing to deliver supplies to the soldiers at the Abu Al-Dhuhour Military Airbase in eastern Idlib; but, during its landing, the plane experienced technical issues that resulted in the pilot losing control of the aircraft and its subsequent crash outside of the airbase.
While the plane was experiencing technical issues, militants from the Al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) opened fire on the aircraft from the northwestern sector of the Abu Dhuhur Military Airbase. The Al-Nusra Front militants claimed they shot down the aircraft; however, the SAAF Central Command revealed that the cargo jet was unable to land properly due to internal issues, resulting in its doomed fate.
Unfortunately, the cargo jet’s crew perished during the crash landing and this resulted in the death of 30 confirmed men from the Syrian Air Force. The following men from the cargo jet were identified to Al-Masdar News as the casualties from the crash:
1. Colonel Hussein Al-Yousif
2. Lieutenant Mohammad Khadour
3. Lieutenant Saarem Mahfoud
4. Major Shaadi Mustafa
5. Major Montajib Al-Faraj
6. Major Amjad Ismaa’eel
7. Captain Waassil Ahmad
8. Captain Wa’el ‘Attiyya
9. Assistant MarhafAl-Mar
10. Assistant ‘Abbas Mohammad
11. Sergeant Waassef Hammoud
12. Sergeant Ghaith Suleiman
13. Assistant Talaal Jaleess
14. Assistant Ahmad Khadour
15. Assistant ‘Ibrahim Al-‘Ali
16. Sergeant Zaheer Jinaad
17. Corporal Mustafa Mustafa
18. Private Mohammad Faa’ouri
19. Private Saaleh ‘Aqaabiyyeh
20. Private Yousif Kurdi
21. Private Ahmad Al-‘Ali
22. Private Mohammad Hilaali
23. Private Wasseem Taraabeeshi
24. Private Mo’ataz ‘Issa
25. Major Mohammad Naabit ‘Ali
26. Major Nadhaam Suleiman
27. Captain Mohammad Maktif
28. Captain Mohammad Habeeb ‘Ali
29. Captain Mohammad ‘Ali Mahmoud
30. Sergeant Mustafa Al-Homsi
