More than 100 men were killed after a medium size medium range transport aircraft Shaanxi Y-8produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation crashed in Myanmar.
Sources in the Myanmar Ministry of Defence confirmed the Shaanxi Y8F200W crashed into Andaman Sea near Dawei.
A Myanmar air force Shaanxi Y8F200W (number 5820) went missing at 1.35pm local time (7:05am UK time) as it flew from Myeik to Yangon, the country’s army said. An anonymous airport source said 105 people and 11 crew were on board at the time. Some source reported that on board were 102 people and 6 crew.
The Shaanxi Y-8 is a medium-size, medium-range transport aircraft designed and manufactured by China’s Shaanxi Aircraft Company.
The Y-8 is used for military and commercial operations. It is used for transporting troops, dropping supplies and functioning as an air ambulance.
The aircraft is capable of operating in all weather conditions and can take-off and land on unprepared airstrips or runways including grass, snow and mud.
In 2016, the Myanmar Air Force has received new Shaanxi Y8F200W tactical transport aircraft from China.
The two Y8F200W tactical transport aircraft developed by AVIC Shaanxi Corporation arrived at the Mingaladon Airport in Myanmar on March 19, 2016. The Y-8 is a medium-size, mid-range transport aircraft with a capacity for carrying 88 passengers and 20 tons of cargo during 7.3 hours of autonomous.