Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the deadly crash of a Russian passenger plane on Thursday.

President Xi said he was shocked to learn of the tragic plane crash in Russia's Amur Oblast, which caused heavy casualties.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences for the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families.

The An-24 aircraft was en route from Khabarovsk to Tynda, with a stopover in Blagoveshchensk, when it crashed near Russia's Far Eastern city of Tynda. All 49 people aboard the plane have been confirmed dead.

(Cover: This handout picture released by the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office shows the crash site of the An-24 aircraft in Russia's far eastern Amur Oblast, July 24, 2025. /VCG)