The plane went missing 38 kilometers from the city of Khabarovsk on Wednesday evening, the Russian emergency ministry announced in a statement.

“A Russian Mi-8 EMERCOM helicopter with rescuers on board took off in search of the plane missing from the radar. In addition, more than 40 rescuers using high cross-country vehicles are involved in the search,” the statement said.

The ministry also noted that the initial search and rescue works for the plane had been complicated by "unfavorable weather conditions and mountainous terrain."

The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1986.