Passenger Jet Crashes in Russia’s Far East Killing 48, Officials Say

The Angara Airlines plane crashed as it was preparing to land in the Amur region.

The debris of an Angara Airlines An-24 passenger aircraft at the crash site near Tynda in the Amur Region, Russia, on July 24, 2025, in this still image taken from video. Russian Investigative Committee/Handout via Reuters

A passenger jet crashed in far eastern Russia, killing everyone on board, the country’s Ministry of Transport said on July 24.

There were 42 passengers, including five children and six crew members, on the Angara Airlines flight when it went down just south of its destination, Tynda, in the Amur region, the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

The ministry said that the wreckage of the Antonov An-24 jet was discovered about 20 miles from its intended destination.

“The top priority is to focus on providing comprehensive support to the families of the deceased passengers and crew of the AN-24: transportation to the crash site, insurance and social payments, medical and psychological assistance as needed,” Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin said. “All these measures must be implemented as quickly as possible.”

The regional civil defense and fire safety center told Russian state news agency TASS that “the plane caught fire upon impact, and a Mi-8 helicopter crew flying over the area reported no signs of survivors.”

Vasily Orlov, governor of the Amur region, declared three days of mourning in the region.

“Flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the Amur Region. This terrible tragedy has claimed the lives of 48 people,” Orlov stated in a Telegram post. “Once again, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. The entire region mourns with you.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed his condolences to the relatives of those who died in the crash, according to TASS.

“Today, a civilian aircraft crashed in the Amur Region, and dozens of people have died,” Putin said. “I would like to express my sincere sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who perished in this plane crash.”

The Soviet-era jet was operated by a privately owned Siberia-based regional airline called Angara Airlines. Its tail number showed it was built in 1976 and was used by Soviet flag carrier Aeroflot before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The propeller-driven An-24s are generally regarded as reliable workhorses by the Russian aviation industry, owing to their ability to operate in sub-zero conditions and land without runways.

Angara Airlines, founded in 2000 and based in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, is one of the main domestic carriers for Eastern Siberia, according to the company’s website.

It has 10 An-24s built between 1972 and 1976, according to the RussianPlanes web portal, compiled by photographers, enthusiasts, and aviation historians.

The Epoch Times has contacted Angara Airlines for comment.