A large-scale search is underway in Russia’s Far East after a passenger aircraft carrying dozens of people lost contact with air traffic control shortly before landing in the town of Tynda, near the Chinese border.

The An-24 aircraft, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, disappeared from radar on Thursday as it approached its destination in the Amur region.

The sudden loss of communication triggered an emergency response, with regional and national authorities launching a joint rescue effort.

Amur governor Vasily Orlov, in a statement shared via Telegram, confirmed that 43 people were aboard the plane, including five children and six crew members.

However, the emergencies ministry offered a slightly different figure, indicating about 40 individuals were on board.

“All available rescue units and resources have been mobilized to locate the aircraft,” said Orlov, noting that the operation was being hampered by the region’s difficult terrain and unpredictable weather.

Specialized search teams have been deployed to the vast and remote area surrounding Tynda, which lies in a sparsely populated zone along Russia’s eastern frontier.

Authorities say no wreckage has been found, and no distress signals have been received so far.

The twin-engine An-24 turboprop, a Soviet-era model, has a long history of use in Russia’s regional aviation sector.

Despite its reputation for being sturdy and adaptable to tough environments, the aircraft type has been involved in multiple incidents over the years, raising fresh safety questions each time.

The disappearance has once again brought attention to the challenges of air travel in Russia’s remote regions, where rugged landscapes, poor infrastructure, and extreme weather conditions make both flying and emergency responses more difficult.

As the search continued into the night, aviation and emergency services pledged to provide further updates once new information becomes available.