In a devastating incident, a charter plane en route to Moscow mysteriously disappeared from radar screens on Saturday (Jan 20), only to be later confirmed to have crashed in the mountains of northern Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, disclosed on Monday that four survivors from the crash in Badakhshan had been successfully transferred to Kabul. The announcement, made through a social media post on the X network, detailed the prompt first aid provided by medical teams to the survivors.

Earlier, Mujahid had confirmed the discovery of a downed Russian airplane in the Kuf Ab district of Badakhshan province, assuring that both the pilot and three passengers managed to survive the crash.

Adding a layer of complexity to the tragic event, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted a source within the Russian aviation authority. This source suggested that factors such as strong winds or a potential fuel shortage might have played a role in the crash. Notably, the source highlighted the presence of robust headwinds on the day of the incident.

Russia Today (RT) further delved into the details surrounding the passengers on the ill-fated aircraft in Badakhshan. Reportedly, the plane was carrying a Russian couple who were returning from a vacation in Thailand. The urgency of one passenger's illness had prompted their early return to Russia.