Russian Passenger Plane Crashes in Amur Region, Killing All 49 Aboard
A Russian An-24 aircraft operated by Angara Airlines has crashed in a remote, mountainous area of the Amur region, killing all 49 people on board. The flight, carrying 43 passengers (including five children) and six crew members, was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it disappeared from radar. Rescue helicopters located the burning wreckage on an inaccessible mountainside. Officials confirmed no survivors were found. An investigation into the cause of the crash, which occurred without any distress signal, has been launched.
Unpacked:
Initial reports suggest that crew error during landing in poor visibility is being considered as a potential cause. The plane vanished from radar during a second landing attempt at Tynda airport after an initial approach was unsuccessful. However, the official investigation is still ongoing and no final conclusions have been released yet.
The An-24 is an older Soviet-era aircraft model, and while not frequent, crashes involving this type have occurred in Russia over the decades. Aging fleets, challenging weather, and remote routes have contributed to several notable incidents in the past, raising concerns about the continued use of older aircraft for regional flights.
The crash occurred on an inaccessible, mountainous slope near Tynda in a remote part of the Amur region. Rescue helicopters were required to locate the wreckage due to difficult terrain, poor visibility, and lack of road access, complicating immediate emergency response efforts.
Angara Airlines is a Siberia-based regional airline. It has operated mainly domestic routes, often in challenging weather and remote locations. While it has not experienced frequent major accidents, operating older aircraft like the An-24 has raised safety concerns, especially regarding maintenance and reliability in harsh environments.