By Ikpommwosa Odigie
A twin-propeller Antonov-24 aircraft operated by Angara Airlines has crashed near the town of Tynda in Russia’s Far East, with no immediate signs of survivors among the 49 people on board.
The aircraft was en route from the city of Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it disappeared from radar around 1:00 p.m. local time (0400 GMT). A rescue helicopter later located the burning wreckage on a forested mountain slope approximately 16 kilometres from Tynda.
Video footage released by Russian investigators showed thick columns of smoke rising from the crash site in dense woodland. According to local rescuers, no evidence of survivors was seen from the air. Efforts to reach the scene by ground are being hampered by the rugged terrain.
Authorities said 25 rescue workers and five units of equipment have been deployed, with four additional aircraft on standby. The Amur region’s civil defence agency confirmed that operations are being conducted primarily by air due to access difficulties.
Angara Airlines, a regional carrier based in Irkutsk, has yet to issue a public statement. Conflicting initial reports from authorities listed between 40 to 43 passengers and six crew members on board, including five children.
Russia’s Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office said the crash occurred during a second approach to Tynda Airport, after the aircraft had gone around for another landing attempt. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
State media outlet TASS reported that the aircraft was manufactured nearly 50 years ago but had its airworthiness certificate extended in 2021 to remain in service until 2036. AFP has not independently verified this information.
The Antonov-24, a Soviet-era aircraft first introduced in 1959, remains in use across remote Russian regions despite the country’s gradual shift to more modern jets. Accidents involving older aircraft remain relatively common in these far-flung areas.
