Rescuers find no survivors at plane crash site in Russia's far east

An aerial view of the crash site of the Antonov AN-24 passenger plane outside the town of Tynda in Russia's far eastern Amur region. [AFP]

Rescuers found no survivors at the site where a plane crashed in Russia's far eastern Amur region earlier Thursday, Russian state media reported.

"A ground rescue team from the Russian emergencies ministry is surveying the scene of the incident and conducting search operations. As of now, there are no survivors," the TASS news agency quoted Russia's emergencies ministry as saying.

The aircraft, a twin-propeller Antonov-24 operated by Angara Airlines, was headed to the town of Tynda from the city of Blagoveshchensk when it disappeared from radar at around 1:00 pm local time (0400 GMT).

A rescue helicopter later spotted the burning fuselage of the plane on a forested mountain slope about 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Tynda.

Videos published by Russian investigators showed what appeared to be columns of smoke billowing from the wreckage of the plane in a dense, forested area.

The plane was carrying 43 passengers and six crew members on board, according to the region's governor Vassily Orlov.

Among the passengers were five children, he said.

Russia's state TASS news agency, citing emergency services, said the plane was carrying 40 passengers and six crew.