Russia: plane with 28 passengers on board disappeared, searches are underway

An An-26 aircraft with 28 passengers on board, including two children, disappeared from the radar screens. The aircraft was heading from the Russian Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the village of Palana.

According to RBC, referring to the Ministry of Emergencies, the plane did not get in touch at the agreed time. Ministry officials say:

“On the afternoon of July 6, the operational duty shift of the crisis management center of the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s main directorate for the Kamchatka Territory received information that the An-26 aircraft, which was making a passenger flight Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Palana, did not go to the scheduled communication session at the indicated time. According to preliminary data, there are 22 passengers on board, including one child, and six crew members. “

Rescuers from the regional search and rescue base and the Kamchatka branch of the search and rescue unit of the Russian Emergencies Ministry are involved in the search for the plane, RIA Novosti reports. The plane and two helicopters are directed along the An-26 route. The Pacific Fleet has joined the search, the military said.

Interfax, citing its source, suggests that, due to poor visibility, the An-26 could have fallen into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk:

“During the landing approach over the Shelekhov Bay, according to preliminary data, the plane crashed. It may have fallen into the water. The search square has been clarified – this is a coal mine in the village of Palana.

The missing plane An-26, according to the transport prosecutor’s office, belongs to the “Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise”. A case was initiated under Part 3 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of traffic safety rules and the operation of air transport). The airline told RIA Novosti: “It has not been confirmed that the plane crashed. This is a passenger flight to Palana.”

An official message appeared on the website of the regional government:

“The area of ​​the plane’s route is being investigated by two helicopters and a special plane. Rescuers are ready to move from Palana to the aircraft detection point. According to preliminary data, there were 28 people on board: 6 crew members and 21 passengers, including two children under 12 years old. “

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