Moscow: A Russian aircraft carrying 50 people, including five children, has crashed near the Chinese border in the remote Amur region. The ill-fated flight belonged to Ankara Airlines, a Siberia-based carrier. Russian authorities have confirmed the discovery of the wreckage, sparking an urgent search for survivors.
The aircraft, an An-24 twin turboprop, developed during the late 1950s Soviet era, vanished from radar while approaching the town of Tynda, amid severe weather conditions, according to regional governor Vasily Orlov, cited by Reuters.
There were 43 passengers and six crew members aboard. The crash occurred in a heavily forested and rugged terrain, complicating search and rescue efforts.
Emergency teams have launched a massive operation to locate any potential survivors, braving the treacherous landscape in hopes of a miracle. The tragedy has cast a pall over the region, as families and officials await further updates.
