RUSSIA — A devastating plane crash in Russia’s remote Amur region has claimed the lives of all 49 people on board, including five children, after an Antonov An-24 aircraft operated by Angara Airlines went down during poor weather conditions near the town of Tynda.

The Antonov An-24, often nicknamed the “flying tractor” for its robust design and capability to operate in rugged environments, departed from Blagoveshchensk on a routine regional flight to Tynda, located near the Chinese border.

Onboard were 43 passengers and six crew members.

As Flight 2311 neared its destination, weather conditions sharply deteriorated—thick clouds, rainfall, and reduced visibility made landing unsafe. The crew attempted one landing approach but aborted due to poor visibility, executing a standard “go-around” to reposition the aircraft for a second attempt.

Tragically, during this second approach, air traffic control lost all radar contact with the plane. No distress signals were sent before the aircraft vanished.

Hours later, emergency response teams and rescue helicopters located the burning wreckage about 15 kilometers from Tynda Airport, in a remote forested area. There were no survivors.

Russian aviation authorities have launched an official investigation into the crash. Preliminary findings point to severe weather and poor visibility as major contributing factors, likely disorienting the crew and complicating safe landing procedures.

Another focus of the investigation is the age and mechanical condition of the aircraft. The Antonov An-24 is a Soviet-era twin turboprop—renowned for durability but increasingly considered outdated by modern aviation standards. Investigators are now analyzing whether technical failures linked to the aircraft’s age may have also played a role.

The crash has cast a dark shadow over regional aviation safety in Russia, reviving questions about aging fleets and infrastructure in remote parts of the country. In the meantime, officials have pledged a full and transparent inquiry to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.