Moscow, July 24 2025 — Russian authorities have begun an intensive search and rescue operation after a passenger plane carrying nearly 50 people went missing early Thursday morning in Russia’s remote Far Eastern region.
Antonov An-26 aircraft were on a domestic flight from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana in Kamchatka Peninsula when they lost contact with air traffic control approximately 20 minutes prior to scheduled landing time, officials confirmed 46 people onboard including 43 passengers and three crew.
EMERCOM, the Emergency Situations Ministry, reported that a plane had vanished from radar over mountainous terrain during poor weather conditions. Preliminary data suggests heavy cloud cover and limited visibility may have played a part in its demise.
At 9:17 local time, communication with the aircraft was lost,” EMERCOM spokesperson Irina Kolesnikova informed reporters. A search operation involving helicopters, rescue teams and regional authorities is currently in progress.
According to flight records, the An-26 was operated by Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise – a regional airline serving remote and isolated communities throughout Kamchatka Peninsula – without any reported prior issues with it, even though it had passed its most recent inspection in June.
Reports indicate that among the passengers were local officials, schoolchildren returning from a regional sports competition, and several elderly residents. Their identities have not been released publicly as authorities notify their families.
Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation and instructed federal agencies to provide all needed support. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin issued a statement calling for calm while offering hope of an expeditious rescue operation.
“During this extremely trying time,” Mishustin noted, “our thoughts and resources are with the passengers, crew, and their families. All available resources have been mobilized in search of an aircraft.”
Search efforts have been hindered by the region’s rugged terrain and fluctuating climate. The Kamchatka Peninsula is known for its volcanic mountains, dense forests, limited infrastructure and lack of transportation options – aviation being their sole viable mode.
As of Thursday evening, no confirmed sightings or emergency signals had been sighted by search teams; local officials stated their focus is currently being directed on an area near Sredinny mountain range based on known coordinates for the plane’s last known position.
This incident recalls previous aviation tragedies in the region. In 2021, another Antonov aircraft crashed near Palana killing all 28 on board due to pilot error and low visibility conditions.
Aviation experts point out that while Russia has made strides toward improving flight safety over recent years, older aircraft and harsh conditions in remote regions still pose significant threats.
The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated a preliminary probe into the plane’s disappearance, noting possible violations of air safety rules; no wrongdoing is suspected at this point in time.
As darkness falls in Kamchatka, there remains hope of finding survivors if the aircraft managed an emergency landing.