Tragic An-24 Plane Crash in Russia’s Far East Claims 48 Lives

All 48 individuals aboard an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft that crashed in Russia’s Far East on Thursday perished, according to regional officials. Meanwhile, police announced the initiation of a criminal investigation into potential breaches of aviation safety regulations.

The Angara Airlines flight lost communication with ground control at approximately 1 p.m. local time while several kilometers away from Tynda airport. The flight had departed from Khabarovsk, with a stop in Blagoveshchensk, and was headed to Tynda with six crew members among the passengers.

Emergency services reported that the aircraft did not send out any distress signals or indicate technical difficulties prior to vanishing from radar. Rescue teams later discovered the burned wreck approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the town of Tynda, which has a population of fewer than 30,000 residents.

«Preliminary assessments indicate that there are no survivors from the An-24 crash in the Tynda area. Rescue personnel have reached the site of the disaster,» Amur region Governor Vasily Orlov shared in a Telegram message, announcing a three-day mourning period for the victims of the tragedy.

«This heartbreaking disaster has resulted in the loss of 48 lives,» Orlov wrote. «Once again, I express my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who perished. The entire region mourns with you.»

Officials had initially stated that the plane was carrying 49 individuals.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, tasked with handling serious crimes, confirmed that all passengers and crew on the flight had died, noting that forensic teams and aviation specialists were sent to the crash site «to support the investigation and gather evidence.»

The agency indicated that its head investigator, Alexander Bastrykin, had ordered Far East transportation specialists to compile a report on their findings promptly.

Previously, the state-owned TASS news agency reported, citing an anonymous emergency official, that the crash site was situated in a rugged, mountainous area, complicating access for rescue helicopters.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations released footage taken from a rescue helicopter as it neared the wreckage, showing smoke rising from a densely forested region.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that President Vladimir Putin had been updated on the air disaster.

State media in China later reported that at least one Chinese citizen was among the passengers. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Putin, stating he wished to convey his heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families.

The An-24, a twin turboprop aircraft from the Soviet era, was over 50 years old, according to civil aviation authorities cited by TASS. The aircraft had received a renewed airworthiness certificate in 2021, permitting it to operate until 2036.

Reporting from AFP contributed to this coverage.