Search For Crashed An-26 Plane Resumes in Russia’s Far Eastern Region Of Kamchatka
July 7, 2021, 4:04 am

Search For Crashed An-26 Plane Resumes in Russia’s Far Eastern Region Of Kamchatka

Antonov An-26 passenger aircraft disappears off radar in Russia's Far East

According to Russian news agency TASS, the press service of the Russian emergencies ministry's Kamchatka department said on Wednesday that rescuers in Russia’s Far Eastern region of Kamchatka have resumed attempts to reach the accident site near the town of Palana.

Earlier, the search effort was suspended at nightfall.

"The search effort has resumed, a group of rescuers has departed to the accident site on all-terrain vehicles," it said.

Together with rescue teams, law enforcement officers and investigators are also trying to reach the crash site.

According to the press service, the plane crashed in an area with rough terrain. The search effort is complicated by fog and bad weather. The Kamchatka department for hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring told TASS the area of the presumed crash site is hit by gale winds and high waves.

According to an emergency source, a helicopter is unable to take off due to bad weather. One group of rescuers will try to get to the site through a dense forest, while the other is waiting for a low tide, allowing them to move along the coastal area.

The Pacific Fleet department of the Eastern Military District’s press service said one large fragment of the plane’s fuselage landed on the slope of the Pyatibratka hill, while the other was spotted at sea, approximately four km away from the coast.

Meanwhile, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov announced a three-day region-wide mourning for the victims.

"In accordance with my decree, a three-day period of mourning is declared on the entire territory of Kamchatka. State flags and flags of the Kamchatka Territory are to fly at half-mast everywhere in the region.

TV broadcasters and cultural facilities were suggested cancelling entertaining shows and events," the official was quoted as saying by the regional government’s official website.

The An-26 plane belonging to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Enterprise went missing on July 6. It was headed from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana and carried 22 passengers and six crew members on board.

The plane’s debris has been discovered 3.8 kilometers away from the airport of Palana. An emergency source told TASS that the plane stopped communication during its landing. One version suggests that the crash happened because of piloting error due to poor visibility. A criminal case has been initiated over violated rules of safety and air transport use.

The Federal Agency for Air Transport established a special commission to investigate the air disaster. It is led by Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev.

Source: TASS

Image source: TASS

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.