The tail section of the Pamir Airways passenger plane that crashed Monday has been located in the Hindu Kush mountain range 24 miles north of Afghan’s capital Kabul.
The search was concentrated around the Salang pass 55 miles north of Kabul where the Antonov-24 was flying when it suddenly disappeared from radar. The tail section was spotted during an aerial search and could be identified from photographs.
It is located at an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet. In spite of this high altitude, difficult terrain, and bad weather, a recovery operation is being planned. Helicopters will be used to find a landing site and rescue teams will then be deployed.
The cause of the crash is as yet unknown. Among the 44 passengers on board the aircraft were three U.S. citizens.
