Russian private jet believed to have crashed in remote Afghanistan

The Associated Press has reported that a Russian private jet, carrying six people, is believed to have crashed in a remote area of rural Afghanistan. The incident occurred on Saturday in the mountainous region near Zebak district in Badakhshan province. A rescue team has been dispatched to the area to locate and assist any survivors.

Zabihullah Amiri, a regional spokesman, confirmed the crash, and the Badakhshan police chief’s office issued a statement verifying the incident.

According to Russian civil aviation authorities in Moscow, the missing aircraft is a Dassault Falcon 10 with four crew members and two passengers. The plane was operating as a charter ambulance flight, traveling from Gaya, India, to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and onward to Zhukovsky International Airport in Moscow.

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Authorities stated that the aircraft “stopped communicating and disappeared from radar screens,” leading to concerns about the fate of those on board. The plane is reported to be owned by Athletic Group LLC and a private individual, though attempts to reach the owners by The Associated Press were unsuccessful.

A contradictory statement from the Taliban described the plane as “belonging to a Moroccan company,” creating initial confusion that remains unclarified.

The crash comes at a time when international carriers have largely avoided Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Flights over Afghan airspace are typically brief, with planes quickly passing through the sparsely populated Wakhan Corridor in Badakhshan province before continuing their journey. The unfolding situation prompts heightened concerns about the safety of those on board and the challenges of conducting rescue operations in the remote terrain.