A Russian passenger aircraft carrying 49 people has crashed in the country’s remote far east, with no survivors reported, according to early information from local agencies and officials.
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The Antonov An-24, operated by Angara Airlines, vanished from radar as it approached Tynda, a town near the Chinese border in the Amur region. Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergencies confirmed on Thursday that the fuselage was found in flames, with wreckage scattered across the remote crash site.
“An Mi-8 helicopter from Rosaviatsiya spotted the burning fuselage,” the ministry stated on Telegram. The aircraft reportedly went down in poor visibility, and pilot error during landing is being investigated as a possible cause, according to TASS news agency.
Initial reports from Amur Governor Vasily Orlov stated that 43 passengers — including five children — and six crew members were on board. However, the Emergencies Ministry put the total number closer to 40, with exact figures still being verified.
The crash is another grim reminder of the dangers of flying in Russia’s far-flung territories, where unpredictable weather, challenging terrain, and older aircraft often create a deadly mix.
While Russia has made significant strides in improving aviation safety over the years, its vast and isolated regions — particularly in the Arctic and eastern frontiers — remain high-risk zones. In 2021 alone, two Antonov aircraft crashed in the Russian far east, killing 34 people in total.
Rescue operations are ongoing, but authorities have already confirmed no signs of life at the scene. The federal transport agency has launched a formal investigation.
Aviation experts are now calling for renewed scrutiny of regional carriers and ageing fleets. For now, Russia mourns yet another aviation tragedy, while the families of the victims await answers.
