'Decapitated' corpses found at Russian plane crash site as 48 passengers killed
Charred and decapitated bodies have been found in the Amur region of Russia, where a passenger plane crashed yesterday.
The aircraft, from the Soviet-era, was flying from the city of Blagoveshchensk to the remote town of Tynda. There were 48 people on board, including children - but no survivors.
The Antonov AN-24 plane had been preparing to land when the crash occurred. The burning fuselage was seen by a search helicopter after it disappeared from radar screens. The Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office said that it had been attempting to land for a second time, after failing to touch down the first time.
One witness at the crash site said: 'Everything has been destroyed, and there are only corpses.'
Another told the Russian defence ministry TV channel, Zvezda: 'They're not letting anyone near them because everything is scattered around, scattered and decapitated bodies. In short, it's horrible…..'
Governor Vasily Orlov asked people 'not to trust unverified information' relating to the crash. He shared on Telegram in Russian that rescuers and investigators were working at the crash site, adding: 'Flight recorders have been found and will soon be delivered to Moscow for decoding.'
Orlov also confirmed that officials were working with the victims' relatives and that 'psychological and medical assistance has been provided'. A temporary accommodation centre has been set up, and the mayor's office has booked 'all available hotels' for relatives.
A three-day mourning period has been declared in the Amur Region, ending on Sunday 27th, which will see flags lowered across the area. Residents brought flowers, toys, and candles to a vigil in honour of the deceased, and the governor wrote: 'I once again express my deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The entire region mourns with you.'
During a meeting to discuss the submarine forces of the Russian Navy, President Putin held a minute of silence for the victims of the crash.
He said: 'Before we start our work, I would like to say – and you know it – that a civilian aircraft has crashed in the Amur Region today, claiming dozens of lives. I would like to offer condolences and words of sincere sympathy to the families and friends of the victims in this air crash.'
Four years ago, on July 6th 2021, Russia experienced another fatal plane crash. All 28 people on board the Antonov-26 died when the aircraft crashed in Palana. Part of the aircraft was found on the Pyatibratka hill, and another part was found in the sea.
Due to the challenging landscape of the region, the search and rescue operations were deemed to be difficult - and at one point, operations had to be postponed because of high waves. A three-day mourning period was declared in the region after the tragedy.
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