Passenger plane crashes in Russia with many passengers

A Russian plane that was initially reported missing has crashed with about 50 people on board. An An-24 passenger plane was reported to have lost contact with local air traffic controllers in Russia’s far east on Thursday (July 24). A search operation was launched and it was reported that the plane was on fire and debris was found in the Amur region. However, no details about the accident or casualties were yet known. Earlier, the local Emergencies Ministry said that the plane, operated by the Siberia-based Angara airline, disappeared from radar screens while en route to its destination in Tynda, a city in the Amur region bordering China. Regional Governor Vasily Orlov said that according to preliminary information, the plane was carrying 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members. “All necessary forces have been deployed to search for the plane,” he wrote in the telegram. Although the Emergencies Ministry has stated that the number of people on board is lower (compared to the number given by the governor), it says there were about 40 people on board.