The aircraft was built in 1974 at the Ukrainian "Aviant" aircraft plant in the Soviet Union.[9] It flew on Soviet and Russian regional routes until July 1998.[9] It was sold to an Armenian air carrier, and then to Trans Attico, Air Libya, Ababeel Aviation, and other air companies in Africa.[9] It was acquired by Alfa Airlines in July 2009 and was modified from Antonov An-26 to Antonov An-26-100 standard at Kiev Aircraft Repair Plant 410 in Ukraine in 2010.[9]