All 48 individuals onboard an Antonov An-24 passenger plane that crashed in Russia’s Far East on Thursday have died. Police investigators have launched a criminal inquiry into possible violations of air safety regulations.
Flight Disappears from Radar Near Tynda
According to The Moscow Times, the Angara Airlines flight lost contact with ground controllers around 1:00 PM local time, while it was several kilometers from the airport in the city of Tynda. The aircraft had departed from Khabarovsk, made a stop in Blagoveshchensk, and was en route to Tynda. Among the 48 people on board were six crew members.
Emergency officials stated that the plane did not transmit any emergency signals nor report any technical problems before disappearing from radar. Subsequently, search and rescue teams found the burnt wreckage of the plane approximately 16 kilometers from Tynda, a city with a population of less than 30,000.
“According to preliminary data, there are no survivors from the An-24 plane crash in the vicinity of Tynda. Rescue teams have arrived at the scene,” announced Amur region Governor Vasily Orlov in a Telegram message, declaring a three-day mourning period for the victims of the air disaster.
Authorities initially reported 49 people were on board.
