Tragedy struck in Russia’s Far East on Thursday as a passenger aircraft carrying 49 people crashed in the Amur region, according to local authorities.
The ill fated flight, operated by Angara Airlines, was an Antonov 24 twin engine plane en route from Blagoveshchensk to the town of Tynda when it vanished from radar, regional governor Vassily Orlov announced on Telegram.
A rescue helicopter later located the wreckage engulfed in flames on a mountainside roughly 16 kilometres from Tynda. According to emergency officials, no signs of survivors were visible from the air.
The region’s civil defence agency confirmed that a search and rescue mission was underway.
“So far, 25 personnel and five pieces of equipment have been deployed. Four additional aircraft with their respective crews are on standby,” the agency said in a statement.
Authorities have yet to confirm any fatalities, but hopes of finding survivors are quickly fading.