Moscow: An Antonov An-24 passenger plane with about 50 people on board crashed in Russia’s far east on Thursday, with initial reports indicating that all on board have died, Russian emergency services officials said.
The nearly 50-year-old Soviet-era aircraft, operated by Siberia-based airline Angara, was en route to Tinda from the city of Blagoveshchensk when it disappeared from radar while approaching a remote town in the Amur region bordering China.
Regional Governor Vasily Orlov said preliminary data suggested 43 passengers and six crew members were on board, including five children, while the emergency ministry put the figure slightly lower at around 40.
The charred structure of the aircraft was spotted in a dense forest area by a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to Rosaviatsia, about 15 kilometres from Tinda, Interfax news agency reported.
“During the search operation, a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to Rosaviatsia found the structure of the plane, which was on fire,” emergency services officer Yulia Petina wrote on Telegram.
An unverified video filmed from a helicopter and shared on social media showed the wreckage in a dense forest. Rescue workers are attempting to reach the crash site, and authorities have announced an investigation into the accident.
