Passenger Plane Crashes in Russia’s Far East; No Survivors Reported

A passenger plane carrying nearly 50 people crashed in a remote forested area of Russia’s Amur region on Thursday, with authorities reporting no signs of survivors.

The aircraft, an Antonov-24 operated by Angara Airlines, was en route from the city of Blagoveshchensk to the town of Tynda when it vanished from radar around 1:00 PM local time. A rescue helicopter later located the wreckage on a rugged, forested mountain slope about 16 kilometers from its destination.

Disturbing footage released by investigators showed thick smoke rising from the crash site, surrounded by dense woodland. Rescue teams flying over the area reported seeing no evidence of survivors.

Emergency crews are working to reach the wreckage on the ground, though the terrain has made access extremely difficult. “The main search operations are being conducted from the air,” a local rescuer told Russian media.

According to regional governor Vassily Orlov, there were 43 passengers and six crew members onboard, including five children. However, initial reports from emergency services stated the plane had 40 passengers.

The crash reportedly occurred during the plane’s second attempt to land at Tynda Airport. “While approaching Tynda Airport, the aircraft went around for a second landing, after which contact was lost,” said a spokesperson from the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The Antonov-24 involved in the crash is believed to have been nearly 50 years old. Despite its age, it had a valid airworthiness certificate extended until 2036, according to local sources. The aircraft model, introduced in 1959, remains in operation in some of Russia’s more remote regions due to limited access to modern jets.

Angara Airlines, a regional airline based in Irkutsk, has not yet issued a statement on the incident.