
Plane with 49 people disappears from radar over Russia's Far East
Forty-three passengers, including five children, as well as six crew members were on board the flight from the city of Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border to the town of Tynda, regional Gov. Vasily Orlov said.

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Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Rescuers expand search in northern Pakistan for 12 missing tourists swept away by floods
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, July 26, (AP): Rescue teams in northern Pakistan expanded their search Friday for at least a dozen tourists who went missing earlier this week after being swept away by flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains, officials said. At least 12 missing tourists are believed to be buried under a massive pile of boulders and mud along a damaged stretch of highway in Pakistan's mountainous north, said Faizullah Faraq, a government spokesperson. "Rescuers are racing against time to trace and rescue the missing tourists,' Faraq said. He said engineers were working day and night to reopen the key Karakoram Highway to restore the movement of people, goods, and trade between Pakistan and China through the border region. Army helicopters were used this week to evacuate 300 tourists who had been stranded in remote areas because of the land sliding and flooding, and military planes were used to transport them to major cities. Broken roads, scattered boulders and thick layers of mud highlight the destruction caused by a powerful flash flood that cut off the scenic north from the rest of the country. Footage on social media showed several vehicles remained stranded in debris along the highway, while tourists were seen walking along narrow mountain paths to reach safer areas. Emergency crews have since Tuesday recovered the bodies of eight tourists and a resident whose vehicles were buried under the rubble while traveling to the scenic Chilas and Skardu districts in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Faraq said. The dead included three members from the same family who had traveled from various parts of the country, including the eastern Punjab province, he said. Gulbar Khan, the chief minister in Gilgit-Baltistan, told reporters Friday that efforts were underway to repair damaged roads. He said tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan has taken a significant hit following the deaths and the closure of parts of the highway, which is a vital artery through the scenic region. Nasir Hussain, an official at the Gilgit-Baltistan Hotel and Restaurants Association, said this year's monsoon rains have wreaked havoc on the tourism industry. During the peak season from May to September, an estimated one million Pakistani and foreign tourists visit the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Hussian said.


Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Plane with 49 people disappears from radar over Russia's Far East
MOSCOW, July 24, (AP): A plane carrying 49 people has disappeared from radar over Russia's Far Eastern Amur region, local officials said Thursday. Forty-three passengers, including five children, as well as six crew members were on board the flight from the city of Blagoveshchensk on the Russian-Chinese border to the town of Tynda, regional Gov. Vasily Orlov said.


Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
British F-35 fighter jet stranded in India for over month takes off after inspiring memes
NEW DELHI, July 22, (AP): A British F-35B fighter jet stranded at an Indian airport for more than a month, sparking memes and cartoons on social media, took off Tuesday after being repaired by a team of U.K. engineers, an Indian official said. The stealth fighter, one of the world's most advanced and costing around $115 million, was grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the southern state of Kerala due to technical snags. The aircraft had hydraulic issues and problems with its auxiliary power unit that have been fixed, said the Thiruvananthapuram official, who wasn't authorized to speak with the media and requested anonymity. The aircraft will fly to a British aircraft carrier in Darwin, Australia, the official said. The British High Commission and UK's Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The jet was on a regular sortie in the Arabian Sea in June when it ran into bad weather and couldn't return to the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales. The aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram and landed safely June 14. The stranded military aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, triggered A.I.-generated memes in India. A Kerala tourism department social media post showed the plane on the tarmac surrounded by coconut trees with a fictitious five-star review: "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend." The top official at the tourism department, K. Biju, said the post was in "good humor.' "It was our way to appreciate and thank the Brits who are the biggest inbound visitors to Kerala for tourism,' Biju said. Another cartoon posted on X showed the plane enjoying snacks with a group of locals against a scenic background. There was speculation in India that the aircraft could be partially dismantled and transported in a cargo plane if repairs were unsuccesful. The U.K. Ministry of Defense dismissed the speculation in a statement.