Russian An-24 Crashes in Far East, Killing All 48 on Board

A Soviet-era Antonov An-24 aircraft carrying 48 individuals, including five children, crashed in a remote forested area of Russia’s far east Thursday as it tried to land, killing everyone aboard and raising fresh concerns about the use of outdated planes in the region.

The wreckage, still burning, was located by a rescue helicopter after the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control. According to the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor’s Office, the plane was making a second attempt to land after an unsuccessful initial approach.

The flight was operated by Angara, a privately-owned airline serving Russia’s Siberian and eastern regions. It departed from Blagoveshchensk, near the Chinese border, and was headed to the railway hub of Tynda. On board were 42 passengers, including five children, and six crew members.

Authorities, including regional officials and federal investigators, confirmed that no one survived the crash.

Investigators have launched a criminal probe into possible violations of air safety regulations. Although the aircraft had recently passed a technical inspection, Russian media noted it had previously experienced four minor incidents since 2018.

Other countries operating the An-24, such as North Korea, Kazakhstan, Laos, Cuba, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe, may also revisit the safety of their fleets in light of the crash, according to the RussianPlanes aviation database.

Footage captured from the air showed smoke rising from the wreckage site deep within a forest about 15 kilometers from Tynda. Due to the absence of roads, rescue crews had to carve a path through the woods with heavy machinery to reach the area.

Moscow has established a special commission to manage the crash’s aftermath and support ongoing criminal and air safety investigations.

Angara Airlines, headquartered in Irkutsk, had a fleet of 10 An-24s prior to the crash, all built between 1972 and 1976. Last year, the airline was among those that requested the Russian government extend the operational life of Antonov aircraft, amid shortages caused by the withdrawal of Western manufacturers.

Known informally as “flying tractors,” the An-24s are prized for their ruggedness, especially in Siberian conditions where runways may be unavailable and temperatures extreme.

However, airline officials and aviation experts warn that maintenance of these aircraft has become increasingly expensive due to sanctions cutting off parts and investment. Though only a small portion of Russia’s more than 1,000 commercial aircraft, the An-24s have seen many incidents. Of the 1,340 units produced in the Soviet Union, 88 have been lost to crashes and 65 to non-fatal accidents. Only 75 remain in service today.

Concerns over their age are not new. In 2011, then-President Dmitry Medvedev called for the An-24s to be taken out of service following a deadly crash that killed seven people in Siberia.

Many of the aircraft are already scheduled for retirement, though the replacement model—Russia’s Ladoga—is not expected to enter mass production until 2027.