Wreckage of missing airliner spotted in Afghan mountains

Search planes have spotted the tail of a commercial airliner that disappeared over Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountains with 44 people on board, officials said today.

Air traffic controllers lost track of the Antonov-24, operated by Pamir Airways, when it was about 55 miles north of Kabul on Monday.

Acting aviation minister Mohammadullah Batash said aircraft located the tail in mountains about 24 miles north of Kabul. Spotters were able to identify the blue Pamir Airways logo on the tail.

An aviation investigator with the Afghan government, Ghulam Maroof, confirmed the finding, saying he had seen photos of the tail. He said helicopters are now trying to find a landing spot in the area.