Russia: Officials confirm crash site of missing aircraft on cliffs overlooking Sea of Okhotsk off Kamchatka Peninsula near Palana, July 6 /update 2

Event

The Federal Air Transport Agency states search and rescue crews have identified the potential crash site of the missing AN-26 aircraft, Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise flight 251, on cliffs along the coast of Kamchatka Krai overlooking the Sea of Okhotsk near Palana, July 6. According to initial reports, the aircraft is believed to have struck the cliff before crashing into the sea below. Emergency crews are yet to physically reach the crash site owing to rough terrain and poor visibility. Search and rescue operations are set to resume early July 7, although it is highly likely that none of those aboard the aircraft survived the crash.

Officials confirmed 28 individuals - 22 passengers and six crew members - were aboard the aircraft. The plane departed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport (PKC) and was en route to Palana when it lost contact with officials during its landing approach. Officials reported low visibility and poor weather conditions in the area at the time of the incident; however, investigators have not ruled out a technical malfunction or pilot error being the cause of the aircraft's disappearance.

Advice

Monitor local media for updates. Reconfirm flights at impacted airports.