Moscow: A devastating air tragedy struck Russia’s Far East on Thursday morning as an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft, operated by regional carrier Angara Airlines, crashed in the Amur region, near the border with China. All 50 people on board, including crew members, are feared to have perished in the crash.
The aircraft, which was en route to the town of Tynda, lost contact with air traffic control shortly before its scheduled landing. Emergency response teams were immediately mobilized following reports that the plane had disappeared from radar, triggering an intensive search-and-rescue operation across the rugged terrain.
Rescuers later located the burning wreckage of the aircraft on a remote mountainside, approximately 16 kilometres from Tynda, according to officials from Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry. The crash site, described as difficult to access and engulfed in thick smoke, left little hope for survivors.
Preliminary information from aviation authorities suggests that poor visibility due to adverse weather conditions may have played a role in the disaster. The region, known for its harsh and unpredictable climate, has frequently challenged pilots operating in the Siberian air corridors.
