The crash occurred in a remote wooded area about 16 kilometers from Tynda airport. The Antonov An-24, which had taken off from Blagoveshchensk nestled near the Chinese border, lost radar contact as it approached for landing. A civil aviation helicopter later discovered the plane's burning fuselage amidst the dense forest.
Tragically, among those on board were five children. Amur's regional governor, Vasily Orlov, has declared a three-day mourning period in their honor. Rescuers faced significant challenges reaching the crash site due to the swampy terrain, taking approximately an hour to arrive.
Preliminary investigations suggest potential pilot error amid poor weather conditions or a technical malfunction as possible causes of the crash. The An-24 had flown many routes previously and was on its final leg from Khabarovsk. Reports indicate that low cloud cover contributed to its initial failed landing attempt and subsequent radar contact loss.
This aircraft was nearly 50 years old and originally designed in Kyiv during the Soviet era, though it hasn't been utilized in Ukraine for several years. While it had recently passed a technical inspection, the civil aviation authority noted its history of incidents, including a left wing damage from a runway overrun in 2016.
The An-24 has faced scrutiny in the past, with fatal crashes linked to this model, prompting past officials to consider grounding planes of this type still in use.
Tragically, among those on board were five children. Amur's regional governor, Vasily Orlov, has declared a three-day mourning period in their honor. Rescuers faced significant challenges reaching the crash site due to the swampy terrain, taking approximately an hour to arrive.
Preliminary investigations suggest potential pilot error amid poor weather conditions or a technical malfunction as possible causes of the crash. The An-24 had flown many routes previously and was on its final leg from Khabarovsk. Reports indicate that low cloud cover contributed to its initial failed landing attempt and subsequent radar contact loss.
This aircraft was nearly 50 years old and originally designed in Kyiv during the Soviet era, though it hasn't been utilized in Ukraine for several years. While it had recently passed a technical inspection, the civil aviation authority noted its history of incidents, including a left wing damage from a runway overrun in 2016.
The An-24 has faced scrutiny in the past, with fatal crashes linked to this model, prompting past officials to consider grounding planes of this type still in use.
