On July 24, 2025, an Angara Airlines An-24 passenger plane in Russia's eastern Amur Region lost radar contact and was soon after confirmed to have crashed. All 49 people on board the aircraft, which was operating a scheduled flight on the Blagoveshchensk-Tynda route, were killed.
Wreckage of An-24 plane carrying 49 people found in Russia's Amur region, July 25, 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)
Aircraft Model and Route
The plane involved in the crash was a Soviet-built, twin-engine turboprop An-24, part of the Angara Airlines fleet based in Siberia. Manufactured in 1976, the aircraft had taken off from Khabarovsk, made a brief stop in Blagoveshchensk, and was heading toward the city of Tynda. The plane disappeared from radar screens during its second landing attempt while on approach to its final destination, Tynda Airport.
Officials reported that there were 43 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The passengers included five children and at least one Chinese national. Following the crash, it was determined that all 49 people on the plane had died.
Course of the Accident
The An-24 aircraft overshot the runway on its first landing attempt and lost radar contact during its second approach. The plane did not send an emergency signal. Search teams located the burning fuselage in a mountainous and forested area approximately 15-16 kilometers from the city of Tynda. Due to the lack of accessible roads in the area, rescue teams were directed to the site using off-road vehicles and heavy machinery.
Search and Rescue Operations
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations coordinated the search operations with Rosaviatsiya. Due to the challenging geographical conditions of the crash site, aerial access was difficult; initial assessments were made by an Mi-8 helicopter. The fire was reported to be ongoing at the wreckage site, and teams dispatched firefighting vehicles to the area to mitigate its effects.
Investigation Process and Technical Reviews
Following the crash, a criminal investigation was launched by the Russian Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Transport. The investigation is being conducted on the basis of a violation of air transport safety rules. The aircraft was reported to have had its airworthiness certificate renewed in 2021, giving it permission to operate until 2036. It was also noted that the plane had experienced four minor technical incidents in recent years, but these were not considered systematic failures.
International Reactions and Condolence Messages
After the accident, condolence messages were sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev offered their condolences to the families of those who died in the crash and to the Russian people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye also issued a written statement, expressing deep sadness over the accident and conveying its condolences.
