Moscow, July 24: A major search operation is underway in Russia’s Far East after an An-24 passenger aircraft carrying around 50 people went missing from radar on Thursday, officials confirmed.
The twin-turboprop plane, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, lost contact with air traffic controllers while approaching Tynda in the Amur region, near the Chinese border, according to the local emergencies ministry.
Regional Governor Vasily Orlov stated that preliminary reports indicate the aircraft was carrying 43 passengers, including five children, along with six crew members. However, emergency officials offered a slightly lower estimate, citing around 40 people onboard.
“All necessary forces and means have been deployed to search for the plane,” Orlov said in a statement on Telegram, as ground and aerial teams began combing the heavily forested and mountainous terrain in challenging conditions.
There has been no official confirmation yet on the fate of the aircraft or its occupants.
The An-24, a Soviet-era aircraft model, is commonly used for short-haul flights across Russia’s remote regions. Investigations are underway, and authorities have not ruled out technical failure or adverse weather as possible causes for the sudden disappearance.
More details are awaited as the search-and-rescue efforts continue. (Agencies)
