A harrowing aviation disaster struck the Russian Far East on Thursday when an Angara Airlines Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft crashed near the remote mountain terrain surrounding Tynda in the Amur Oblast.
All 49 people aboard, including five children, perished in the tragedy.
The aircraft, operating a domestic flight from Khabarovsk to Tynda, vanished from radar during a second landing attempt under reportedly poor weather conditions. A helicopter dispatched by the Federal Air Transport Agency later spotted the burning fuselage on a mountainside, confirming fears of a fatal outcome.
Local authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash. Preliminary indications suggest the possibility of technical failure or navigational error, compounded by adverse visibility due to dense fog. Eyewitness accounts from nearby villages reported hearing a loud explosion shortly before rescue teams arrived.
Emergency response teams faced challenges accessing the wreckage due to the rugged terrain, delaying confirmation of casualties. Flight RA-47315 had passed routine inspections earlier this month, according to Angara Airlines’ spokesperson.
