Amur, Russia:
A Russian passenger aircraft carrying approximately 50 people, including five children, has gone missing in Russia’s Far Eastern region near the border with China, prompting a large-scale search operation, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The missing aircraft, an Antonov An-24 operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, lost contact with air traffic control while en route to the town of Tynda in the Amur region. The incident occurred as the plane was making a second attempt to land at Tynda airport after an earlier approach had failed, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
#Breaking news from #Russia: an An-24 passenger plane operated by Angara Airlines, carrying around 46 people, has gone missing in the Amur region. The plane, with approximately 46 people lost contact with ATC near Tynda.
DD India’s @AkshayDongare_ brings more updates. pic.twitter.com/HG76HxBfhG
— DD India (@DDIndialive) July 24, 2025
Conflicting Reports on Number of People On Board:
According to Amur region Governor Vasily Orlov, preliminary data suggests the aircraft was carrying 43 passengers, including five children, along with six crew members, totaling 49 people on board. “All necessary forces and resources have been deployed to search for the aircraft,” Orlov stated on Telegram.
However, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported a slightly different figure, stating that about 40 people were believed to be on board at the time of the incident.
Search Operation Underway:
The plane disappeared from radar shortly before it was expected to land, and authorities quickly initiated a coordinated search involving emergency personnel, aircraft, and ground teams. The rugged terrain and forested landscape of the Amur region are reportedly complicating rescue efforts.
Weather conditions at the time of the incident have not yet been disclosed, but officials are investigating multiple possibilities, including mechanical failure and poor visibility.
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No Wreckage Found Yet:
As of the latest update, no wreckage has been located and no contact has been re-established with the aircraft or those on board. Emergency response teams are scouring the area in hopes of locating the plane or survivors.
The Antonov An-24 is a Soviet-era twin turboprop aircraft commonly used for regional flights in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union. Although largely reliable, some older models have raised safety concerns in recent years.
Authorities have pledged to continue the search around the clock and provide updates as new information becomes available. Family members of those aboard have been notified, and crisis centers have been set up in Tynda and nearby towns.
The incident has sparked fresh debate around the safety of older aircraft in Russia’s regional fleet, especially those operating in remote and weather-challenging areas.
