adminThe aircraft, carrying 39 passengers and four crew members, went down at around 5.50am Moscow time (0150 GMT) shortly after it took off from the major Siberian city of Tyumen, about 2 100 km east of Moscow, toward Surgut.
Following the tragedy, rescuers rushed to the scene and transferred the survivors to hospitals, but some of the critically injured were later pronounced dead. All passengers and crew members have been found.
According to a list of passengers and crew published by UTair Airlines, operator of the crashed plane, most of those aboard are from Russian cities of Tyumen and Surgut.
Television footage showed survivors were pulled from the wreckage of the plane, which was destroyed into parts lying on a snowfield, and sent to hospitals by helicopter.
Search and rescue operation at the accident spot has been completed and an investigation into the reason behind the crash continues at the site.
Yuri Alekhin, head of the regional branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry, told reporters that they had found the aircraft’s two black boxes, which were in good condition.
He said the French-Italian-made ATR-72 aircraft disappeared from the radar and lost contact just three minutes after taking off.
According to a UTair source, the plane had attempted to make an emergency landing but failed. The plane burst into flames after the crash, and the fire was later extinguished.
Eyewitnesses said they noticed smoke coming from the aircraft’s twin engines as it plunged to the ground.
The cause of the crash is yet to be determined, but a terrorist act and bad weather conditions are ruled out.
According to an investigative committee, investigators were studying possible mistakes by ground services among most likely reasons for the crash.
“Malfunction and pilot’s error are considered at the moment as priority versions,” said Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Russian Investigation Committee.
Deputy prosecutor in Tyumen Valentin Tarasov told local media that one person who was to have flown on board the aircraft arrived late for the flight, which saved his life.
Hot-wire telephone lines were established to offer information about the accident and psychological consultation.
Due to the crash, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev put off a planned meeting with leaders of unregistered urged called on local officials to spare no effort to save the injured.
Earlier reports from Itar-Tass news agency said that there were 39 passengers and two crew members on board and that all of them were killed.
ATR-72 is a passenger twin-engine turboprop medium-haul airliner, which is designed for the transportation of 74 passengers at medium distances and steered by two pilots. — Xinhua.
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