Aircraft Carrying 28 Crew and Passengers Lost Contact in Russia's Far East

Antonov (AN)-26 aircraft appearance [Photo by Airlines Inform]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] It has been reported that communication with an Antonov (AN)-26 aircraft carrying 28 passengers and crew members went lost in the Russian Far East region.

Russian state news agency TASS reported on the 6th that authorities are currently conducting a search operation for the aircraft.

According to authorities, the aircraft was carrying 22 passengers and 6 crew members, including children among the passengers.

Local disaster authorities added that the aircraft was en route from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Kamchatka Krai, to Palana, another regional town in the area.

Reports indicate that the aircraft lost contact with the air traffic control tower while attempting to land and is believed to have possibly crashed into the sea.

Disaster authorities have dispatched helicopters and other resources to the nearby area where contact was lost to conduct search operations.

In Russia, aviation accidents are known to occur frequently due to a poor aviation safety system. In May 2019, a passenger plane operated by the Russian airline Aeroflot made an emergency landing at a Moscow airport, during which a fire broke out, resulting in the deaths of 41 passengers.

Meanwhile, the AN-26 is a twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed and produced during the former Soviet era.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.