A passenger aircraft carrying 49 people has crashed in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur region, with authorities confirming that no survivors have been located so far during an aerial search.

The An-24 aircraft, operated by Angara Airlines, disappeared from radar on Thursday while approaching the remote town of Tynda, near the Chinese border. Communication with air traffic controllers was lost shortly before the crash.

Emergency officials said burning wreckage was spotted on a mountainside approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Tynda airport. Initial aerial inspections indicated no signs of life, though ground teams continue to search the area for potential survivors.

Footage aired by Russian media showed thick smoke billowing from dense forest near the suspected crash site.

According to Amur region governor Vasily Orlov, preliminary reports indicate that 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board at the time of the crash. “All available resources have been mobilized for the search and rescue operation,” he stated via Telegram.

Investigators are currently examining possible causes, including mechanical failure and human error, the country`s transport investigation committee said.

The twin-engine An-24 aircraft, originally developed in the late 1950s by the Soviet Antonov Design Bureau, has long been used for regional flights in rugged and remote parts of Russia. The crashed plane was manufactured in 1976, making it over five decades old, according to official records.

Source: The Guardian