A Soviet-era Antonov 24 passenger plane, operated by Angara Airlines, crashed in Russia's far east near Tynda, Amur region, killing all 48 people onboard, including 42 passengers (five children) and six crew members. The nearly 50-year-old aircraft, en route from Blagoveshchensk, lost radar contact while approaching Tynda's airport. 

 Wreckage was found burning on a mountainside 9 miles (15km) away, with thick smoke rising above dense forest. Over 100 rescuers used heavy machinery to reach the remote site. Investigators opened a criminal case, suspecting violations of air traffic rules causing multiple deaths through negligence. Malfunction and human error are being considered as causes. 

Regional governor Vasily Orlov declared three days of mourning, lowering flags to half-mast. The Antonov-24, designed in the 1950s by the Soviet Antonov Design Bureau, is known for its durability and ability to operate on unpaved runways. 

 This crash, the first fatal passenger aviation incident in Russia since July 2021, highlights challenges facing the country's aviation industry, strained by Western sanctions since the Ukraine invasion, which have limited access to spare parts and led to increased mechanical issues.