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A Russian passenger aircraft operated by Angara Airlines has crashed in the Amur region of the country’s Far East, killing all 49 people on board. The Antonov An-24, a Soviet-era twin-engine turboprop, disappeared from radar on July 24 while attempting a second landing approach near Tynda, a remote town close to the Chinese border.
The flight originated in Blagoveshchensk and was carrying 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members, according to regional governor Vasily Orlov. The burning fuselage was discovered on a hillside approximately 15 kilometres south of Tynda by a Mi-8 rescue helicopter, which reported no signs of survivors.
Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft caught fire upon impact, possibly due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions during its descent. The plane, built in 1976, was nearly 50 years old and had previously served under Aeroflot before being acquired by Angara Airlines.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry and transport prosecutor’s office have launched an investigation into potential flight safety violations, a standard procedure following aviation disasters. The crash adds to a series of incidents involving aging regional aircraft amid growing concerns over fleet modernization and safety standards.
Authorities have declared a period of mourning and dispatched additional rescue teams to the crash site. The Interstate Aviation Committee is expected to lead the technical investigation into the cause of the accident.
