Forty-eight people were killed when a plane crashed in a remote area of Russia’s Far East, the governor of the Amur region, Vasily Orlov, confirmed on Thursday.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the burning wreckage of the Soviet-designed twin-turboprop aircraft was found on a forested hillside south of Tynda, a city that was among the aircraft’s intended destinations, more than 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) east of Moscow.
The plane, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, had departed from Khabarovsk with a stop in Blagoveshchensk—near the Chinese border—before heading toward Tynda. State media images from the reported crash site showed debris scattered among dense trees, with columns of smoke rising from the wreckage.
Governor Orlov noted that rescue teams struggled to reach the crash site due to its remote location, roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Tynda.
According to the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and vanished from radar during a second landing attempt. Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing unidentified emergency service sources, reported that poor weather conditions prevailed at the time of the crash. Several media outlets also reported that the aircraft was nearly 50 years old, based on its tail number.
Orlov declared three days of mourning in the Amur region, calling the incident a “terrible tragedy.” An earlier statement from the governor had said 49 people were onboard, though the reason for the discrepancy remains unclear.
Authorities have launched an investigation on charges of flight safety violations resulting in multiple deaths—standard procedure following aviation accidents.
Russia has seen a growing number of air incidents in recent years, largely attributed to the aviation sector’s decline under international sanctions, which have hindered access to parts and maintenance for its aircraft fleet.
