‘No survivors’ after passenger plane carrying 49 people crashes in Russia

Addis Ababa, July 24, 2025 (FMC) – A thorough investigation is underway following the tragic crash of a passenger plane in Russia’s Far East, which claimed the lives of all 49 people on board, including five children and six crew members.

The An-24 aircraft, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, vanished from radar while approaching its destination, the town of Tynda in the Amur region near the Chinese border. Rescue teams later located the burning wreckage scattered across the region.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed that no survivors have been found. “An Mi-8 helicopter operated by Rosaviatsiya spotted the burning fuselage of the aircraft,” the ministry stated on Telegram.

Preliminary findings from Russian news agency TASS suggest that the crash may have resulted from a combination of crew error during landing and poor visibility conditions. Mechanical malfunction has also not been ruled out.

Regional Governor Vasily Orlov reported that 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were aboard the ill-fated flight, though the Emergencies Ministry’s numbers slightly differ, estimating about 40 people.

Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the crash as Russia mourns the loss of those aboard.