In a tragic turn of events, a Russian passenger aircraft carrying 49 people, including five children and six crew members, has crashed in the remote Amur region near the Chinese border. Authorities fear there are no survivors.
The aircraft, identified as an Antonov An-24 and operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, disappeared from radar on Thursday while approaching the town of Tynda in Russia’s Far East. Moments later, a search operation was launched by emergency responders.
According to reports from the IFAX news agency and corroborated by Reuters, debris from the ill-fated plane was discovered strewn across a forested area, its fuselage engulfed in flames. A chilling video shared by RT on social media shows the burning wreckage, reportedly captured by a helicopter dispatched for aerial reconnaissance.
“All necessary forces and means have been deployed to search for the plane,” stated Vasily Orlov, the governor of the Amur region. Preliminary information from his office indicated that 43 passengers, including five children, were aboard, along with six crew members.
However, figures vary slightly among agencies. The local emergencies ministry gave an initial estimate of around 40 people on board, while RT and other media have consistently reported the total as 49.
What remains consistent, however, is the grim outcome. RT, quoting unnamed rescue officials, stated that “there were no survivors” at the crash site, marking the incident as one of the most devastating aviation disasters in the region in recent memory.
The plane reportedly lost contact with air traffic controllers just before its scheduled landing in Tynda. Authorities are now working to confirm the exact number of casualties and identify the victims.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time, and Russian aviation authorities have promised a full investigation. Black box recovery efforts are already underway, as emergency teams brace for challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions in the mountainous border zone.
This incident has reignited concerns about the safety of aging Soviet-era aircraft still in operation across remote regions of Russia.
As the nation mourns, flags are expected to be lowered across the Amur region, with tributes pouring in from local and national leaders. President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been briefed on the situation.
The world watches as Russia confronts yet another aviation tragedy, with families anxiously awaiting official confirmation and answers to the question haunting many: what went so terribly wrong in the skies over Tynda?
PIONEER NEWS 