STORY: The small, propeller-driven An-24 plane carries up to 50 passengers and is well-suited to the harsh conditions in Siberia and Russia's far north. The Antonovs don't have to land on runways, but can manage on the ground or snow.

The Antonovs were designed in the 1950s and produced in Kyiv from the 1960s, but none has been made for almost a decade. According to Siberian airline Angara, almost 100 remain in service, with an average age of about 50 years.

In 2023, after the Western sanctions were introduced, two Siberian airlines have asked the Russian government to extend the service life of Soviet-era Antonov aircraft.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF THE ANTONOV AN-24 AIRCRAFT TYPE AT AIRPORT / AN-24 TAKING OFF

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: YAKUTSK, RUSSIA (FILE - DECEMBER 13, 2023) (REUTERS - Access all)

1.ANTONOV AN-24 AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY BEFORE TAKING OFF

2.COCKPIT

3.VARIOUS OF AIRPORT WORKERS NEAR AIRPLANE

4.COCKPIT

5.AIRPORT WORKER SCREWING PROPELLER

6.TAIL OF AIRPLANE IN HANGAR FOR MAINTENANCE

7. VARIOUS OF WORKERS PERFORMING AIRPLANE MAINTENANCE

YAKUTSK, RUSSIA (FILE - DECEMBER 12, 2023) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. VARIOUS OF AN-24 TAKING OFF AND FLYING AWAY DURING SNOWY WEATHER