The wreckage of a plane that crashed while carrying 49 people has been found in Russia’s Far East, local emergency services have said.
According to Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry, the charred remains of the plane were discovered on a hillside located south of its intended destination in Tynda.
Images of the reported crash site circulated by Russian state media show debris scattered among dense forest, surrounded by plumes of smoke.
An aerial assessment of the crash site initially indicated no signs of survivors, as reported by Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing unnamed sources within the emergency services. These sources mentioned challenging weather conditions in the region.
The transport prosecutor’s office in the Far East reported that the site of the crash was 15 kilometres south of Tynda.
The office said in an online statement that the plane attempted a second approach while trying to land when contact with it was lost.
The An-24 passenger aircraft, carrying 43 passengers, including five children, along with six crew members, was en route from the city of Blagoveshchensk near the Russian-Chinese border to the town of Tynda, stated regional Governor Vasily Orlov.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported that 48 people were on board the flight, which was operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines.
The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.
The authorities have launched a probe into the charge of flight safety violations that resulted in multiple deaths, a standard procedure in aviation accidents.
