Russian Passenger Plane Crashes in Far East, All 50 Feared Dead

Tragedy struck Russia’s Far East on Thursday as an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft, carrying approximately 50 people, crashed while approaching the remote town of Tynda in the Amur region, according to Russian emergency services.

The aircraft, operated by Angara Airlines, reportedly disappeared from radar while approaching Tynda, a remote town in the Amur region near the Chinese border.

According to Amur Regional Governor Vasily Orlov, initial reports indicate the plane was carrying 43 passengers, including five children, along with six crew members. In a statement on Telegram, Orlov said:

“All necessary forces and resources have been deployed to search for the plane.”

However, the local emergencies ministry offered a slightly different figure, stating the total number of people onboard was around 40. The discrepancy in numbers is not unusual in early stages of such incidents and may be clarified as the investigation progresses.

The Antonov An-24, a twin turboprop aircraft commonly used in remote and rugged areas of Russia, was nearing its destination when air traffic control lost all communication with the crew. No emergency signals or distress calls were reported before the aircraft vanished from radar.

Emergency response teams, helicopters, and ground units have been dispatched to comb the dense forest and mountainous terrain surrounding the flight path. Authorities are working against time, facing challenging weather conditions and limited visibility in the region.