Plane crash in Russia’s Far East leaves 48 dead

Forty-eight people were confirmed dead Thursday after a plane crashed in Russia’s Far East region.

The country’s Emergency Situations Ministry said search crews found the An-24 passenger plane’s burning fuselage on a hillside south of its planned destination in the town of Tynda, which is located near the Russia’s border with China. 

Regional Gov. Vasily Orlov said that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft were killed in the crash. He also announced three days of mourning.

Images of the reported crash site circulated by Russian state media show debris scattered among dense forest, surrounded by plumes of smoke.

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An initial aerial inspection of the site had suggested that there were no survivors, Russia’s Interfax news agency said, citing unnamed sources in the emergency services. Its sources also said that there were difficult weather conditions in the area.

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The transport prosecutor’s office said the plane attempted a second approach while trying to land when contact with it was lost.

Forty-three passengers, including five children, as well as multiple crew members were onboard the plane as it traveled from the city of Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border to the town of Tynda, Orlov said.

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The flight was operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.