A Cessna 182 aircraft has gone missing in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast.

Axar.az reports, citing Russian media, that the information was announced by Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev.

According to the report, the aircraft, which was being used to monitor forest fires, had two people on board. The plane was expected to return to the village of Mama at 20:50 after conducting patrol operations, but lost contact.

A search operation has been launched. An aircraft will be sent to search for the missing plane, while two helicopters are expected to join the operation in the morning.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over a possible violation of air transport safety rules.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway.