By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A Soviet-era Antonov An-24 aircraft carrying approximately 50 people crashed in Russia’s remote Far Eastern region on Thursday, with initial reports suggesting that all onboard had perished, according to Russian emergency services officials.
The ageing twin-engine passenger plane, built in 1976 and operated by Siberia-based carrier Angara, was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it disappeared from radar near its destination.
Vasily Orlov, governor of the Amur region, stated that preliminary data indicated there were 43 passengers onboard, including five children, alongside six crew members.
The Russian emergencies ministry, however, cited a slightly lower figure, estimating around 40 people in total.
Debris from the aircraft was reportedly discovered on a forested hillside approximately 15 kilometres from Tynda.
Video footage, apparently recorded from a helicopter and circulated on social media, appeared to show the charred wreckage nestled in dense woodland. Emergency service officials confirmed that the burning fuselage was spotted from the air.
“During the search operation, a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to Rossaviatsiya discovered the fuselage of the aircraft, which was on fire,” wrote Yuliya Petina, an official from the emergency services, on Telegram. “Rescuers continue to make their way to the scene of the accident”.
Authorities swiftly launched an investigation into the tragic incident as rescue crews raced towards the site.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but the aircraft’s vintage status has raised concerns about ageing fleets operating in challenging terrain across remote Russian regions.