A plane crash in Russia's Far East has killed 48 people, the head of the Amur Region said.
The An-24 passenger plane disappeared from radar during a flight from the city of Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border to the city of Tynda.
Rescuers later found the burning wreckage of the plane in dense forest on a hillside south of the planned destination.
The region's governor, Vasily Orlov, said all passengers, including five children, and crew members on board the plane had died in the crash. He also declared three days of mourning.
Pictures of the crash site released by Russian state media showed debris scattered through dense forest and surrounded by plumes of smoke.
Russian news agency Interfax, citing unnamed sources in emergency services, reported that there were adverse weather conditions at the time of the crash.
Several Russian news agencies also reported that the plane was nearly 50 years old, citing data taken from its tail number.
The Far East Transport Prosecutor's Office reported that the crash site was nine miles south of Tynda.
The department reported that the plane made a second attempt to land when contact with it was lost.
The plane initially took off from Khabarovsk, then headed to Blagoveshchensk, and then to Tynda.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged safety violation that led to multiple deaths, which is standard procedure in aviation accidents.
Such incidents have become more frequent in Russia, especially in recent years as international sanctions have put pressure on the country's aviation sector.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
