A tragic Russian plane crash in the far east has killed all 49 people on board, including five children, after the aircraft vanished in a storm while attempting to land in the mountains near Tynda.
The Antonov An-24, operated by Angara Airlines, lost contact with air traffic control during a second landing attempt at Tynda airport on the morning of July 24, 2025. According to emergency officials, the plane had been flying the Khabarovsk–Blagoveshchensk–Tynda route when it disappeared in heavy rain and low cloud cover.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the crash after deploying multiple search teams. The aircraft was located in a mountainous area near the Amur region, close to the Chinese border. “There are no signs of life at the crash site,” authorities reported to Reuters
Governor Vasily Orlov of the Amur region shared updates on Telegram, stating that all available rescue units had been mobilized after the An-24 dropped off radar. He expressed deep sorrow for the lives lost and said emergency workers were working around the clock in difficult terrain.
The aircraft had 43 passengers and six crew members. Among them were five children. Initial reports suggest the plane was facing severe turbulence and poor visibility when the crash occurred. The crew had reportedly aborted their first landing due to storm conditions.
The An-24 model is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that has been in service since the Soviet era. It is still used in some remote regions despite safety concerns about aging aircraft. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation by Russian aviation authorities and the federal transportation watchdog, Rosaviatsiya.
Witnesses near Tynda reported hearing a loud noise followed by silence as the plane disappeared into the clouds. The terrain surrounding Tynda is known for thick forests and rugged mountains, which have slowed recovery efforts.
“It’s heartbreaking,” one emergency responder told “We are doing everything we can to recover and identify the victims.”
This crash adds to a troubling record of aviation incidents in rural Russia, where older aircraft are still widely used due to limited infrastructure and economic constraints. Investigators are expected to examine the black box and flight logs once they are recovered from the wreckage.
The nation has declared a day of mourning. Support centers have been set up in Tynda to assist grieving families.