The Emergencies Ministry says the plane dropped off radar near the Amur region, bordering China.
~50 people are dead. Plane – AN-24. Designed in the 60s. This particular machine was manufactured, most probably, in the 70s. It is a miracle that this plane was still flying.
I’m a bit of an aviation nut. While it’s not a new plane, it’s certainly not the oldest one flying by far.
Aircraft have a rigorous maintenance schedule. Some components are replaced based on hours used, others are on a calendar schedule: replace it regardless of hours. There are also so-called C- and D-checks: the plane basically gets completely taken apart every 6 to 10 years.
IF DONE CORRECTLY - this means the aircraft will be in excellent condition, even if it reaches that age.
Now, this being Russia in wartime, I wouldn’t be surprised that proper maintenance wasn’t performed. Especially since the AN-24 has an excellent reputation as a rugged, dependable plane. They probably used those resources elsewhere.
Of course, even the best maintained planes can crash. We’ll see what any investigation reveals.
