A plane carrying nearly 50 people on board reportedly crashed in Russia’s Far East on Thursday, with local emergency services locating the wreckage. The country’s Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed that search crews found the plane’s burning fuselage on a hillside south of its planned destination in the town of Tynda, near the Russia-China border.
Images released by Russian state media showed debris scattered among dense forest, with plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. An initial aerial inspection suggested no survivors, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing unnamed sources in the emergency services. Difficult weather conditions in the area were also noted as a potential factor in the crash.
The transport prosecutor’s office stated that the plane attempted a second approach to land before contact was lost. Regional Governor Vasily Orlov reported that 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board the An-24 passenger plane traveling from Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border to Tynda.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported 48 people on board, creating a discrepancy in the passenger count. The reason for the difference has not been disclosed. The Associated Press contributed to this report, which is a developing story with ongoing updates expected.
Other recent news include a London-bound plane carrying over 200 people crashing after takeoff in India and a story on Texas flood recovery volunteers. These unrelated developments highlight the varied nature of current global events.