Tragedy As Missing Russian AN-26 Plane Carrying 28 Persons Crashes Into Sea

 

At least 28 people are missing after a Russian aircraft crashed into sea.

 

The aircraft had been earlier reported missing in the Kamchatka region.

 

It was later discovered that the plane had crashed as it was preparing to land.

 

The Antonov-26 plane, which apparently crashed on Tuesday morning Huky 6,p into a rocky mountainside, was carrying 28 including 6 crew. None are believed to have survived.

 

Russian state media said the debris was found 4 km (2.5 m) from the plane’s destination, the village of Palana in the north of the remote peninsula. The Russian-made, twin-engined plane was due to land at just before 1pm local time, but lost contact with air traffic control shortly before the final approach.

 

The weather in the area was cloudy at the time, Interfax news agency said, quoting the local meteorology centre. 

 

Olga Mokhireva, the head of the local government in Palana, was aboard the flight, the spokespeople of the Kamchatka government said.

 

A probe into the incident has been launched and several ships were en route to the crash site, RIA quoted emergency services as saying.

 

The plane belonged to a company called Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise, and was built in 1982.