Russia plane crash: PM Modi offers condolences after tragedy kills nearly 50 onboard; says India ‘stands in solidarity'
In a message posted on X, he said, 'Deeply saddened at the loss of lives in the tragic plane crash in Russia.
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Extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We stand in solidarity with Russia and its people.
'
A Soviet-made Antonov-24 aircraft carrying nearly 50 people crashed on Thursday in a forested region of the Amur area, killing everyone on board. The twin-propeller aircraft had departed from Blagoveshchensk and was en route to Tynda when it vanished from radar around 1:00 pm local time, as per news agency AFP.
A rescue helicopter later located the burning fuselage approximately 15 kilometres south of Tynda's airport, where smoke could be seen rising from the heavily wooded crash site. Russian investigators confirmed there were no survivors, and fragments of the aircraft were scattered across the terrain.
Video footage released by officials showed extensive damage.
According to the Amur region's Governor Vasily Orlov, 43 passengers and six crew members were on the flight, including five children.
However, Russia's emergency situations ministry reported that 48 people were on board the flight, which was operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.
The aircraft, nearly five decades old, had its airworthiness certificate extended until 2036, according to Russianplanes.net, though it could not be immediately verified, as per AFP.
As per news agency AP, the aircraft had originally departed from Khabarovsk and was on a multi-leg journey, flying via Blagoveshchensk towards Tynda.
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The plane reportedly lost contact with air traffic control during a second attempt to land. Russia's aviation authorities have opened an investigation, and the Amur region has declared three days of mourning.
The cause of the crash is not yet confirmed, but Angara Airlines CEO Sergei Salamanov told REN TV that weather conditions were poor at the time and added, 'The commander made the decision to carry out the flight.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping also offered condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, 'I would like to express my deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims,' according to CCTV.
One Chinese national was reportedly among the passengers.
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