A Russian warfare aircraft in service with the Black Sea Fleet crashed on Friday in Ukraine killing three and injuring one crewmember.

      According to the Russia's Defence Ministry, the accident took place at 18:40 Moscow time at the Kacha airfield, 50 kilometers from the Russian naval base in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.

      Russia's amphibious antisubmarine Beriyev Be-12 plane, which did not carry any weapons, crashed during landing. A source at the Kacha airfield said the cause of the accident may be engine's failure.

      Flights of Be-12 planes have been suspended while investigators establish the cause of the incident. Be-12s have been in service with the Russian Navy since early 1960s. There are only nine remaining planes on the territory of Russia and post-Soviet republics. The plane that crashed on Friday has been in service for over 30 years.