Thursday. 28.03.2024

Debris has been found after a Russian passenger plane with 28 people on board went missing, the governor of the Russian region of Kamchatka said on Tuesday.

The debris was discovered around 5 kilometres from the destination airport in the eastern region of Kamchatka, Vladimir Solodov said, according to the Interfax agency.

Citing rescue services, Interfax also reported that all occupants were presumed dead.

Due to darkness in eastern Russia, the rescue effort was temporarily stopped.

The Antonov An-26 aircraft had been on its way from the region's capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, to the town of Palana.

Shortly before landing, contact with the crew was lost. According to the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya, it was very foggy. It is investigating whether the weather conditions, technical failure or pilot error led to the accident.

Debris was discovered both in the Sea of Okhotsk, part of the Pacific Ocean, and on a rocky slope.

Among the 28 occupants were six crew members and two children, according to media reports.

Debris found after a Russian plane crashed in the Far East