The fiery fuselage of a plane, built during the Soviet era, nearly 50 years ago, was found on the ground when helicopters and rescue crews rushed to the scene.
Videos filmed from a helicopter and posted to social media show planes descending in densely wooded areas. Pale smoke could be seen rising from the crash site.
The plane was on the way by a privately owned Siberia-based regional airline called Angara. The aircraft’s tail number indicates that it was built in 1976 and operated by the Soviet flag airline Aeroflot before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The plane was on its way from the city of Blagoveshchensk to Tynda, a remote and important railway intersection in the amniotic fluid region adjacent to China. I dropped my radar screen while preparing to land.
Preliminary data shows 43 passengers and five crew members on board, including five children, the area governor said.
The federal Russian government has added passenger numbers at age 42.
The debris from the plane were found on a hill about 10 miles (15 km) from Tinda, cited by paramedics as saying.
“During a search operation, a MI-8 helicopter belonging to Rosaviazziah discovered the fuselage of the aircraft.
“The rescuers continue to move to the scene of the accident.”
Angara representative told Reuters they could not provide further details.
The federal Russian government has established a committee to address the aftermath of the crash, and the authorities have announced an investigation into the cause.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin has been notified of the crash.
rhm/