NBC News Reports : Blagoveshchensk, Russia — A Russian Antonov An-24 passenger plane, carrying 48 people, tragically crashed in the country’s far east on Thursday, resulting in the loss of all lives on board, according to officials. The incident has prompted widespread mourning and an investigation into the cause of the crash.
The aircraft, which was nearly 50 years old and manufactured during the Soviet era, was spotted in flames by a helicopter near Tynda, a remote town and vital railway junction in the Amur region bordering China. Video footage shared on social media revealed the plane’s wreckage in a densely forested area, with plumes of pale smoke rising from the crash site.
The An-24 was operated by Angara, a privately owned regional airline based in Siberia, and was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it dropped off radar screens while preparing to land. Regional Governor Vasily Orlov confirmed that all passengers and crew members perished in the crash and declared three days of mourning in remembrance of the victims.
Emergency services reported that debris from the plane was located on a hill approximately 10 miles from Tynda. “During the search operation, an Mi-8 helicopter belonging to Rossaviatsiya discovered the fuselage of the aircraft, which was on fire,” the emergency services ministry detailed in a Telegram update.
In response to the tragedy, the federal Russian government has established a commission to address the aftermath of the crash and has launched a formal investigation into its cause. President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the incident.
Angara Airlines, which operates a fleet of Antonov An-24s built between 1972 and 1976, has faced increasing scrutiny regarding the aging aircraft. Many of these planes, referred to as “flying tractors” due to their reliability in harsh conditions, are seen as essential for regional connectivity in Siberia. However, the cost of maintaining these aircraft has surged following Western sanctions against Russia, which have restricted access to necessary parts and investment.
As the aviation industry grapples with the challenges of an aging fleet, regional airlines are attempting to keep these older planes in service until new models become available. The mass production of the new Ladoga aircraft, designed to replace the An-24, is not expected to commence until 2027 at the earliest.
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