Raphael Kanu
Tragedy struck Russia’s Far East on Thursday as a passenger aircraft carrying close to 50 individuals crashed in a remote forested area near the town of Tynda in the Amur region. Early reports indicate there are no immediate signs of survivors.
The aircraft, an Antonov-24 operated by Angara Airlines, had departed from Blagoveshchensk and was en route to Tynda when it vanished from radar shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time. Rescue teams later located the smouldering wreckage roughly 16 kilometers from the destination airport.
According to regional authorities, the plane was carrying 43 passengers and six crew members, including five children. However, Russia’s state news agency, TASS, reported a slightly lower number of passengers, suggesting 40 onboard.
Governor Vassily Orlov of the Amur region confirmed that the aircraft had attempted a second landing before contact with air traffic control was lost. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.
Rescue operations have been hampered by the dense forest and mountainous terrain. Smoke billowing from the crash site has been captured in footage released by Russian investigators, underscoring the challenges facing emergency crews.
The aircraft in question, nearly 50 years old, had its airworthiness certificate renewed in 2021 and was reportedly cleared for use until 2036. The Antonov-24, a Soviet-era twin-propeller model introduced in 1959, remains in operation across Russia’s remote regions due to a scarcity of modern aircraft.
Aviation analysts have long expressed concern about the use of aging fleets in Russia’s hinterlands. This crash is expected to reignite debates over aviation safety, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure.
As of now, Angara Airlines has not issued an official statement. Russian authorities have deployed additional aircraft and personnel to continue the search and recovery operation, which is expected to be prolonged due to the harsh terrain.
This devastating incident raises global concerns about the risks associated with operating vintage aircraft in remote locations and the need for improved aviation safety standards worldwide.