Russian plane crashes; 49 on board killed

 
A Russian An-24 aircraft operated by Angara Airlines crashed today  in the mountainous Amur region, killing all 49 people on board, including five children and six crew members. The plane was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda, near the Russia-China border, when it lost contact with air traffic controllers shortly before landing. The aircraft reportedly caught fire midair and disappeared from radar. Rescue helicopters later found the wreckage on a remote slope about 10 miles from Tynda. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors. The crash site’s steep terrain and dense forests have hampered recovery efforts. Preliminary reports suggest the plane may have been attempting a second approach to land. No distress signal was sent.