Egypt Daily News – A passenger plane operated by Angara Airlines crashed on Thursday in Russia’s remote Far East, killing all 48 people on board in one of the country’s deadliest aviation tragedies in recent years. The aircraft, a Soviet-era twin turboprop, went down in a forested hillside area near Tynda, in the Amur region, after disappearing from radar during an attempted landing.
The flight had originally departed from Khabarovsk, with planned stops in Blagoveshchensk, near the Russian-Chinese border, and finally Tynda, more than 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) east of Moscow. According to Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry, the wreckage was located approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Tynda. Photos released by state media showed debris scattered among dense trees, with smoke rising from the charred remains.
Regional Governor Vasily Orlov confirmed the fatalities in a public statement, describing the crash as a “terrible tragedy.” He declared three days of mourning across the Amur region in memory of the victims.
Search and rescue teams reportedly faced significant difficulties accessing the remote crash site due to the rugged terrain and thick forest. Governor Orlov noted the logistical challenges, which slowed initial efforts to confirm the scale of the disaster.
The cause of the crash has not been officially determined. However, early reports from Russian news agencies, citing unnamed emergency service sources, pointed to poor weather conditions in the area at the time of the incident. Several outlets also noted that the aircraft was nearly 50 years old, raising concerns about the safety of aging Soviet-designed planes still in use across Russia.
The plane lost contact with air traffic control while attempting a second landing approach in Tynda. The Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office stated that the aircraft had vanished from radar shortly before impact and has opened an investigation into potential flight safety violations that resulted in multiple deaths—a standard legal step in fatal aviation accidents.
Initial reports had indicated that 49 people were aboard the flight, including five children. That number was later revised to 48, though officials did not immediately clarify the reason for the discrepancy.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges within Russia’s aviation sector, which has come under increasing pressure in recent years. International sanctions have limited access to spare parts, maintenance support, and new aircraft, resulting in greater reliance on older planes and domestic carriers. Aviation accidents have become more frequent, prompting calls for modernization and stricter oversight of regional airlines.
As investigators continue to examine the crash site and recover flight data, the tragedy adds to the growing list of concerns about air travel safety in remote parts of Russia. For now, the Amur region mourns its loss, while the nation awaits answers.
