Tragic Antonov AN-24 Crash Claims 48 Lives
It’s a grim day in the world of aviation. An airliner disaster has struck, claiming the lives of dozens…
Airliner Crashes Following Go-Around in Eastern Russia
This somber incident unfolded on Thursday, July 24, 2025. It involves an Angara Airlines Antonov An-24 flying a routine 353-mile route from Blagoveshchensk (BQS) to Tynda (TYD), snug near Russia’s edge with China.
Today’s flight carried a legacy as old as it gets—a near half-century-old bird, the Antonov An-24, registration RA-47315. This vessel was serving under the banner of Aurora Airlines, with flight number HZ2311.
The aircraft was moments from landing on Tynda’s runway 6 when it abruptly rerouted for a go-around. That was the last anybody heard from the cockpit. Shortly after, wreckage was discovered 15 kilometers shy of the airport, smoldering on a mountainside.
Aboard were 48 souls—42 passengers, inclusive of five children, and a dedicated crew of six. Tragically, there were no survivors. The skies were behaving, with decent visibility, light breezes, and some harmless drizzle. It’s unfathomable, my heart goes out to everyone affected… how utterly devastating.
It’s Too Early to Know What Caused This Accident
The weather seemed cooperative at the moment of the crash, making one wonder—why no SOS from our ill-fated pilots?
Does the age of our flying veteran stand suspiciously in the spotlight? Close to 50 years is no minor milestone. But let’s not be too hasty in labeling it unsafe. This particular plane had a scrape with fate in 2018, losing significant wingage after a tangle with a pole. Yet, after repairs, it carried on soaring for years without a glitch.
But wait, before you tweet “ageism in aviation,” the plot thickens with Russia’s notoriety for playing fast and loose with aircraft upkeep.
Talk of Airbus and Boeing models hits a snag here due to sanctions—you try getting new fuselages or just-as-good parts amid diplomatic red tape. Let’s not forget, Antonovs mainly hail from Ukraine. You can connect the dots on the geopolitical web tangled between Russia and Ukraine, but is that the real issue here?
It could simply be a supply glitch. There’s a fraction under 100 of these antiques gliding worldwide, mostly down in Africa, making spare parts scarcer than a sunny day in January at Val Seny ski resort.
Lest I mislead you, I’m not claiming that this aged horse came down hungry for nuts and bolts, but it’s a glaring footnote in today’s tragic headline.
Bottom Line
So here we are: An Antonov An-24, proudly wearing Angara Airlines colors, met its end in Eastern Russia, leaving all 48 aboard to their tragic fates. Having attempted a go-around, the aging marvel vanished from radar, and heartbreakingly—the wreckage was soon discovered mere miles from its intended terra firma.
To the families, may these words offer some balm for the unbearable loss…