Nearly 50 people, including children, died in the crash of a Soviet-era Antonov An-24 passenger plane in a remote area of the Amur region in Russia’s Far East. The accident occurred on Thursday when the aircraft, which was operating a regional flight between Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, and Tynda, disappeared from radar just a few kilometers before landing, according to local officials as reported by CNN.
According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the wreckage of the aircraft was spotted from a helicopter on a mountainside about 16 kilometers from the city of Tynda. Rescuers who arrived by air saw no signs of survivors.
The governor of the Amur region, Vasily Orlov, stated on Telegram that preliminary data indicated there were 49 people on board at the time of the crash – 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members.
According to Russian state media, including the TASS news agency, all those on board are believed to have lost their lives. The aircraft was just a few kilometers from Tynda Airport when it lost contact with air traffic control. According to the airport director, a fire broke out after the crash.
The flight was operated by Angara Airlines, a carrier based in Irkutsk, Siberia. The Antonov An-24 was manufactured in 1976, with the model dating back to 1957.
Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. The Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that all available resources have been mobilized, while the Interstate Aviation Committee has opened a special inquiry. However, the search is further complicated by the inaccessible terrain – dense forest and swampy areas with no road infrastructure.
This tragedy has once again raised questions about the safety and age of aircraft still used on regional routes in Russia, especially in remote parts of the country where air transport is often the only link to the outside world.
