[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] An Antonov (An)-26 aircraft carrying 28 passengers and crew members crashed in Kamchatka, the Russian Far East, and all on board are reported to have died.
According to Russian state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti on the 6th (local time), the passenger plane belonging to the local 'Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise' suddenly lost contact near its destination while flying from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the southeastern capital of Kamchatka Krai, to the northwestern small town of Palana.
The Kamchatka regional government stated that the aircraft took off from Yelizovo Airport in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at 12:57 PM carrying 22 passengers and 6 crew members, totaling 28 people. The plane was scheduled to arrive in Palana at 3:05 PM but lost contact with the control center about 9 km from the destination.
Subsequently, search and rescue teams were dispatched to the site, and soon after, wreckage of the passenger plane was found near Palana, the destination.
Vladimir Solodov, Governor of Kamchatka Krai, said, "Fragments believed to be from the passenger plane have been found. Experts are moving to the wreckage site," adding, "It appears the accident occurred during the second turning flight while landing."
A spokesperson for the emergency services told Sputnik News, "According to preliminary information, it appears that all passengers and crew died in the crash." RIA Novosti also cited the aviation authority, stating that the search and rescue team found the An-26 wreckage and that there appear to be no survivors.
The search and rescue operation was suspended due to darkness and worsening local weather conditions. According to TASS, a professional diver team will participate in the search at the accident site once daylight returns. The exact cause of the accident is not yet known.
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