KATHMANDU: At least 22 people, most of them air cadets, have been killed in a military plane crash in Ukraine, BBC reported.

The plane was carrying cadets from Kharkiv Air Force University and was on a training flight. Emergency ministry officials say 27 people were on board.

The aircraft, an Antonov-26, came down near the eastern city of Kharkiv while it was landing.

Two were seriously injured, and a search operation is continuing into the night for three missing people.

The cause of the crash is being investigated. The plane came down about 2km (1.2 miles) from a military airport in the town of Chuhuiv, the emergency ministry officials say. (With inputs from Agencies)