Passenger plane carrying 48 people crashes in Russia’s Far East

A Russian passenger plane carrying 48 people has crashed near the remote town of Tynda in the country’s Far East, with no survivors found so far as rescue teams continue to scour the mountainous crash site.

The 1976-built plane, operated by Angara Airlines, vanished from radar before being found ablaze in a remote forested area. It had failed its first landing attempt and was circling back when it crashed.

The victims included 42 passengers, five of them children, and six crew members.

A criminal investigation has been launched into possible air traffic violations.

Although the aircraft had passed a technical safety check and was one of ten An-24s still operated by Angara, it had been involved in multiple incidents since 2018.

The crash is renewing concerns over Russia’s reliance on aging Soviet-era aircraft, especially as Western sanctions limit access to spare parts. An-24s, often dubbed 'flying tractors,' are favored in Russia's harsh climates, but their upkeep is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

The aircraft is still operated in countries like North Korea, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, raising questions about the global future of the model.

President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and held a minute's silence at the start of a government meeting.

At least one Chinese citizen was reported to have been on board and Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to Putin.

Tags

News Politics Russia