Russian Plane with 71 People Onboard Crashes, Inquiry into Crash Opened

The local emergency services are investigating the information about the crash of the Russian An-148 in Moscow region, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said Sunday, according to Sputnik.

A total of 65 passengers and six crew members were on board of An-148 plane of Saratov Airlines which had disappeared from the radars in the Moscow Region, the Russian Emergency Ministry said, adding that the crashed plane was subsequently detected from the air in the Ramensky District of the Moscow Region.

Tass news agency said that according to preliminary reports, no one of the 71 people on board survived the crash.

 Putin Expresses Condolences to Relatives of An-148 Crash Victims

President Vladimir Putin of Russia expressed deep condolences to all people who lost their relatives in the plane crash, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the president ordered the government to establish a special commission to investigate the crash.

“Putin also gave instructions to competent agencies to conduct all necessary search works,” the spokesman added.

Russia opens probe into Saratov Airlines plane cras

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened an investigation into the crash of a Saratov Airlines plane near Moscow. The Antonov An-148 jet was carrying 65 passengers and six crew members, RT reported.

Authorities say all lines of inquiry into the plane crash are open.

Rescuers have arrived at the site and found two bodies from the crashed plane, Russia’s EMERCOM said.

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov flew to the site of the alleged crash near Argunovo village in the Moscow region, officials confirmed.

The crashed plane was spotted from the air in the countryside near Moscow, a rescue service source told Russia’s RIA news agency.

Debris of Crashed An-148 Plane Discovered in Ramensky District of Moscow Region

Debris of the crashed An-148 plane were discovered in the Ramesnky District of the Moscow Region, the main directorate of the Emergencies Ministry in the Moscow Region said.

“On February 11, 2018, at 02:45 p.m. [11:45 GMT] … a message was received on disappearance from radars of an aircraft at the address – Moscow region, Ramensky municipal district, Stepanovskoye village … at 03:40 p.m. [12:40 GMT] the debris of the aircraft were discovered,” the statement said.

A total of 34 units of equipment and 167 people are operating in the crash site.

H.M