Passenger Plane with 49 On Board Crashes in Russia; All Believed Dead

Crash site of Russian aircraft

A passenger plane carrying 49 people crashed in Amur Province in Russia's Far East. There are believed to be no survivors among those on board.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press, an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft operated by the Russian civil airline Angara Airlines crashed on this day. The aircraft was manufactured in 1976 and has been involved in frequent accidents over the years. Local authorities estimate that all passengers on board have died.

Vasily Orlov, Governor of Amur Province, stated via Telegram that there were 43 passengers, including 5 children, and 6 crew members on board the aircraft. In contrast, the Russian federal government announced that the total number of passengers was 42.

The aircraft was found on a mountainside 15 kilometers from the village of Tynda Kubikta. Local fire authorities reported that the crash site was burning when it was discovered. Due to the steep terrain, it was reportedly difficult for rescue helicopters to land properly.

The fire authorities explained, "The helicopter found the burning fuselage of the aircraft during the search operation," adding, "No survivors were confirmed from the air, but they may be found during ground searches."

The aircraft suddenly disappeared from radar while preparing to land. TASS news agency, citing sources, reported, "It is presumed that the accident occurred when the crew attempted to land in poor visibility and collided with the slope of a hill due to crew error, but other scenarios are also being considered."

The Russian Investigative Committee announced that it has launched an investigation into violations of traffic safety and aircraft operation regulations in connection with the accident. The Kremlin reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had also been briefed on the incident.