TYNDA, RUSSIA, July 24 — An Antonov An‑24 turboprop operated by Angara Airlines crashed Thursday near the remote eastern Russian town of Tynda, killing all 49 people on board in what is now the second serious accident involving the airline’s An‑24 fleet in just two months.
The Soviet-era aircraft, built in 1976, was 49 years old at the time of the crash but still certified for commercial service through 2036, according to aviation officials. It lost contact with air traffic control and disappeared from radar today at approximately 1 p.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT) during a second approach to Tynda Airport. The wreckage was located approximately 15 kilometers south of the airport, with the fuselage found burning, according to local rescue teams.
“Initial information indicates there are no survivors. Rescue helicopters have been unable to land at the crash site due to the challenging mountainous terrain. The area remains engulfed in flames,” Russian news agency, TASS stated quoting sources.
The 49 people on board included 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew. Preliminary reports indicate there were no survivors.
A Series of An‑24 Incidents in 2025
This is the third reported An‑24 accident in the Russian Far East and Siberia this year, adding weight to mounting safety concerns:
- January 25, 2025 – A Khabarovsk Airlines An‑24 with 20 passengers and 3 crew suffered an engine failure on takeoff at Nelkan Airport in Khabarovsk Krai. The aircraft ran off the runway and crashed into bushes. No injuries were reported, but the incident raised flags about reliability and maintenance standards.
- May 29, 2025 – Another Angara An‑24 suffered a nose gear collapse while landing in Irkutsk, skidding off the runway and narrowly avoiding a fuel station. All 51 people on board survived.
Now, with dozens dead, scrutiny is growing over why aircraft nearly half a century old are still flying commercial routes in some of Russia’s most remote regions.
Sanctions and Shrinking Options
The crash also underscores the impact of Western sanctions on Russian aviation. Since 2022, sanctions have severely limited access to new aircraft, spare parts, and maintenance support. Leasing firms have pulled out, and domestic production remains slow and insufficient to meet demand.
As a result, airlines like Angara have been forced to extend the operational life of legacy aircraft such as the An‑24, a twin-engine turboprop introduced in 1959 and no longer in production since 1979.
A Fleet in Focus
Angara Airlines, based in Irkutsk, is one of several regional carriers that continue to rely on Soviet-era turboprops due to the logistical and financial challenges of upgrading their fleets.
Image: An Antonov An‑24 operated by Angara Airlines, similar to the aircraft that crashed near Tynda on July 24, 2025. (Pexels/Sergei Starostin)
The An‑24 remains a workhorse for underserved areas, prized for its short takeoff capability and rugged design, but also criticized for outdated avionics, structural fatigue, and limited safety enhancements.
Image: Crash image via social media
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