On January 21, 2024, a Russian private jet carrying six people, including four crew members and two passengers, crashed in Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan province, an area approximately 155 miles northeast of Kabul.
The plane, a Dassault Falcon 10, had been operating as a charter ambulance flight, initially flying from Pattaya, Thailand, to Gaya, India, then proceeding to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with Moscow, Russia, as its final destination.
The jet, built in 1978 and registered in Russia, was co-owned by Athletic Group LLC and a private individual. Details of the ownership emerged amidst conflicting reports, with the Taliban officials initially describing the plane as belonging to a Moroccan company.
The Russian investigative committee opened a criminal case to probe potential violations of air safety rules or negligence associated with the crash.
The aircraft disappeared from radar screens after losing communication during the flight. It was later found near the Aruz Koh mountain in the Kuf Ab district of Badakhshan.
The Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, dispatched rescue teams to the crash site. The pilot, along with three others, was found alive amidst the wreckage, while the fate of the two remaining passengers remained unclear.
The plane’s journey had medical implications. It was transporting a Russian woman in serious condition from a hospital in Pattaya to a medical facility in Russia. Accompanying her was her husband, Russian businessman Anatoly Evsyukov. The flight was equipped with a medical team to attend to the needs of Evsyukov’s wife, Anna.
In collaboration with their Afghan counterparts, Russian authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident. This inquiry aims to unravel the events leading to the crash, focusing on whether any air safety regulations were breached.
International carriers have largely avoided flying over Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The Russian embassy in Afghanistan is actively involved in handling the situation, providing necessary assistance and gathering information.