A Russian An-24 passenger plane, operated by Siberia-based Angara airline, crashed in Russia’s far east Amur region, with no survivors reported, according to preliminary data.
The aircraft, carrying approximately 49 people, including 43 passengers — five of whom were children — and six crew members, was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it disappeared from radar.
Regional Governor Vasily Orlov confirmed the passenger count and noted that all necessary resources have been deployed to locate the wreckage.
Emergency services reported that the plane’s debris was discovered in the Amur region, near the Chinese border, after a rescue helicopter identified the burning fuselage.
The local emergencies ministry stated that the An-24 failed to pass security checks as it approached Tynda, losing contact with air traffic control.
Poor visibility and potential crew error during landing are being investigated as possible causes of the crash, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive search and investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Discrepancies in the reported number of passengers, with estimates ranging from 40 to 49, are being clarified by the emergencies ministry.
The crash site’s remote location in the Amur region has posed challenges, but rescue operations continue to assess the scene and gather evidence.