6 people missing as wreckage of disappeared An-26 aircraft found in Khabarovsk

Wreckage of the An-26 aircraft, which disappeared from radar, has been discovered in the area of the "Spartak" ski resort in Khabarovsk Territory.

The rescue helicopter had been searching for a landing site in the morning due to poor visibility and challenging terrain. The wreckage was found in the territory of the Borshchekovskiy Nature Reserve, three kilometers from the road leading to the village of Korfovskiy.

It has been reported that technicians who serviced the aircraft prior to its last flight have been questioned, and they were given operational maintenance and flight assignment documentation. "Fuel samples have been seized at Khabarovsk (Novi) airport, a chemical forensic examination has been assigned, and documents related to the pre-flight medical examination and meteorological forecast, flight and technical documents, as well as information about the aircraft and crew members, have been confiscated," stated the Eastern Division of the Russian Investigative Committee.

According to data from the regional headquarters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the fate of the six crew members aboard the aircraft remains unknown.

A federal air transport agency aircraft has also been dispatched to the site of the incident. More than 70 rescuers and 20 pieces of equipment are involved in the ongoing operations.

The An-26 disappeared from radar 38 kilometers from Khabarovsk, reportedly around the territory of the Borshchekovskiy Nature Reserve, and communication with it was lost. Preliminary information suggests that the likely cause of the emergency was adverse weather conditions.