A Soviet-era Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft, carrying approximately 50 people, crashed in Russia’s remote far eastern region on Thursday. According to officials from Russia’s emergency services, initial reports suggest that there are no survivors.
The aircraft, which dates back to 1976, was operated by Angara Airlines, a regional carrier based in Siberia. The plane was en route from Blagoveshchensk to the remote town of Tynda in the Amur region, near the Chinese border. It reportedly vanished from radar as it approached its destination.
Rescue teams were dispatched immediately after a helicopter crew spotted the burning wreckage of the plane in a densely forested area. Unverified video footage posted on social media, allegedly shot from a helicopter, appears to show the charred remains of the aircraft surrounded by trees.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties, but the severity of the crash and the condition of the wreckage have raised fears that all those on board may have perished. Investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.
