Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Passenger Plane Crashes In Russia Killing 50
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A nearly 50-year-old Russian Antonov An-24 passenger plane carrying about 50 people crashed in Russia’s far east Thursday, and everyone on board was feared dead, emergency services officials and witnesses said.
Authorities said it crashed en route from the city of Blagoveshchensk to Tynda, a remote town and essential railway junction in the Amur region bordering China. It dropped off radar screens while preparing to land.
Video shot from a helicopter and posted on social media showed the plane came down in a densely forested area on a hill around 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the town of Tynda.
Pale smoke rose from the crash site. Authorities said the aircraft was operated by the privately owned Siberian-based regional airline Angara.
Witnesses said the aircraft’s tail number showed it was built in 1976 and had been operated by Soviet flag carrier Aeroflot before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The burning fuselage of the plane, which was made in the Soviet era and was nearly 50 years old, was spotted on the ground by a helicopter, and rescue crews were rushing to the scene.
There were 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members on board according to preliminary data, Vasily Orlov, the regional governor said. Russia’s government estimated the number of passengers on board to be 42.
While it was not immediately clear what caused the crash, there has been concern about the aging Antonov aircraft, which are part of a fleet of over 1,000 passenger planes in Russia.
Additionally, foreign manufacturers operating in Russia or delivering aircraft parts to the country halted operations due to sanctions imposed on the government over its war against Ukraine.
Many of the planes were due to be retired from service in the coming years. Still, regional airlines are trying to keep them flying until a replacement enters service, as they say there is no alternative until then.
Mass production of the new Ladoga aircraft, which is in the same class as the An-24, is not due to begin until 2027 at the earliest.
Angara, operating the crashed aircraft, was reportedly one of two Siberian airlines that last year asked the Russian government to extend the service life of the Antonov aircraft, many of which are over 50 years old.
It suggested that Russian planemakers scramble to plug the gap left by an exodus of foreign manufacturers.
Nicknamed “flying tractors” by some, the propeller-driven An-24s were long seen as reliable workhorses by the Russian aviation industry. They are well-suited to the harsh conditions in Siberia as they can operate in sub-zero conditions and don’t have to land on runways.
However, without enough maintenance options, airline executives, pilots, and industry experts have expressed concerns about the cost of maintaining the Antonovs.
Reuters news agency reported that mass production of the new Ladoga aircraft, which is in the same class as the An-24, is not due to begin until 2027 at the earliest.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Anti-immigration and local parties made gains in municipal elections in the Netherlands, where concerns over rising migration from mainly Islamic countries, the financial impact of climate policies, and increased defense spending have dominated national and local debates.
Israel signaled Thursday it would refrain from further attacks on energy infrastructure after a strike on Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, sending oil and natural gas prices sharply higher and raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
European Union leaders condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision on Thursday to block a 90 billion euro ($98 billion) loan for Ukraine, linking his stance to a dispute with Kyiv over Russian oil supplies.
Families and friends of scores of Christians held in Iranian prisons have requested prayers as “concerns for their well-being grow and communication has all but ceased” amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, Christians told Worthy News Thursday.
As a marathon debate over the SAVE America Act continues in the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are sparring over whether the voter ID bill would strengthen election security or discourage potential voters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that Iran has lost its ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles following nearly three weeks of coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.
Israel dramatically expanded its military campaign against Iran, striking Iranian Navy targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time since the launch of “Operation Roaring Lion,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Thursday.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com