Tragedy struck in the Russian Far East as an Angara Airlines plane crashed, claiming 48 lives and prompting investigations into the cause.
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of 48 in the Russian Far East
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of 48 in the Russian Far East
A devastating aircraft incident has resulted in the loss of all 48 individuals aboard a flight in remote Amur region.
Russian authorities have announced that there were no survivors after an Angara Airlines plane, carrying 48 people, crashed in the Amur region. The Antonov An-24 aircraft was on a flight from Blagoveshchensk, close to the Chinese border, when it disappeared from radar as it neared Tynda airport. The distressing crash site, located 16 kilometers from the airport, was discovered by a civil aviation helicopter, which observed flames engulfing the aircraft's fuselage in the isolated forest.
The incident reportedly involved five children, prompting Amur's governor, Vasily Orlov, to declare three days of mourning in remembrance of those lost. The remote and marshy terrain significantly delayed rescue teams, taking approximately an hour to arrive at the site. Initial inquiries into the accident are focusing on two potential causes: pilot error exacerbated by adverse weather conditions or a possible technical malfunction.
At the time of the tragedy, the An-24 aircraft was concluding its journey from Khabarovsk, having already attempted a landing but faced challenges from low cloud cover. Radar contact was lost as the crew prepared for a second approach. The Angara Airlines, based in Irkutsk, utilized pilots and crew from the same region, and a number of passengers were reportedly working with Russian Railways.
The Antonov An-24, nearly five decades old, has a controversial history, having faced technical inspections and been linked to several incidents in the past. Notably, since 2018, the model has been involved in four incidents, leading to safety concerns. In 2011, then-President Dmitry Medvedev called for the grounding of remaining An-24 planes in response to a previous crash which killed seven individuals. As investigations continue, attention turns to addressing the safety standards of aging aircraft in regional air transport.
