A Russian passenger plane with 49 people on board, including five children and six crew members, has crashed in the country’s Far East, and there are no survivors, in a devastating air tragedy.
The Antonov An-24 plane, belonging to Russian Siberia-based Angara Airlines, went off the radar while flying from Blagoveshchensk in the Amur region, which borders China, to the city of Tynda. Their burning wreckage was later found in a remote forested area with no further explanation for the crash.
Videos circulating on Russian social media, as well as one aired by the state-run RT television network, show thick smoke coming from the crash site. Its fuselage had seemingly burst into flames on impact, in a scene of absolute destruction.
According to Amur Governor Vasily Orlov, who addressed the incident on Telegram, there were no survivors among the 43 passengers and six crew members. Search and rescue crews arrived at the scene soon after the plane was reported missing, only to discover the worst.
It is among the deadliest air accidents in Russia in the past few years, drawing fresh attention to the safety of regional airlines. Investigators are now exploring the reasons for the crash, including the weather and potential technical problems.
The nation grieves all 49 lives lost and is waiting to hear more from the continued investigation.
