Tragedy struck Russia’s Far East on Thursday as an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft, carrying nearly 50 people, crashed near the remote town of Tynda in the Amur region, with early reports indicating no survivors.

The aircraft, a Soviet-era model built in 1976, was operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines and was on a scheduled flight from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it vanished from radar during its approach. The Amur region, located near the Russian-Chinese border, is known for its dense forests and rugged terrain—conditions that likely complicated the rescue efforts.

Emergency services confirmed the discovery of the aircraft’s burning fuselage by a Mi-8 search helicopter belonging to Russia’s aviation authority, Rossaviatsiya. The wreckage was located roughly 15 kilometers (about 10 miles) from Tynda, scattered along a wooded hillside.

While regional governor Vasily Orlov stated that 49 people were believed to be on board—including 43 passengers and six crew members, among them five children—the emergencies ministry later suggested the number could be slightly lower.

Unconfirmed video footage shared on social media appeared to show the scorched remains of the aircraft in a thickly forested area, fueling fears that all on board had perished.

Emergency response teams were said to be making their way on foot to the crash site, slowed by the challenging terrain. “Rescuers continue to make their way to the scene of the accident,” wrote emergency services official Yuliya Petina on Telegram.

Russian authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The Antonov An-24, a workhorse of Soviet and post-Soviet aviation, has been in service for decades, and its advanced age could become a key focus of the probe.

This incident marks another grim chapter in Russia’s aviation safety record, particularly in the country’s more remote regions where older aircraft remain in regular use.