In a tragic incident, a Russian businessman and his wife are believed to have been on board a private jet that crashed in Afghanistan during a medical evacuation mission. Local reports suggest that the aircraft was carrying a total of six individuals when it crashed in the mountainous province of Badakhshan.

According to the Taliban's Transportation and Civil Aviation Ministry, the pilot of the plane has been found alive, along with three other passengers. A search and rescue mission is currently underway to locate and assist any remaining survivors.

Russian civil aviation authorities have confirmed that the missing plane, a Russian-registered Dassault Falcon 10, belongs to Athletic Group LLC and a private individual. The jet disappeared from radar, prompting concerns about the fate of the passengers onboard, including businessman Anatoly Evsyukov, 65, and his wife Anna. The couple were on their way from a hospital in Pattaya, Thailand, to Moscow, with two stops along the way, due to the serious medical condition of a bedridden woman on board.

The exact cause of the tragic crash remains unclear at this point. Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesman for the Taliban's Information and Culture Ministry, mentioned an "engine problem" as a possible reason for the accident, but did not provide further details.

It is worth noting that international carriers have largely avoided flying over Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, as ground controllers have stopped managing the airspace. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks associated with aviation in the region.

As the search and rescue mission continues, authorities are working diligently to gather more information and determine the full extent of the tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those involved in this devastating incident.