44 killed in Russian plane crash, 8 injured

June 21, 2011 | World News | Written by

Moscow, June 21: At least 44 people were killed when a Tupolev-134 plane, carrying 43 passengers and nine crew, crashed in north-western Russia, an Emergency Ministry spokeswoman has said.

Eight people were reportedly severely injured in the accident, the China Daily reports.

The plane crashed near a road about one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the runway at the Besovets airport outside the northern city of Petrozavodsk at about 11.40 pm (local time) on Monday.

“The preliminary information is that 44 people were killed. Eight people were injured.” she said, adding that nine crew were on board. Officials had earlier said there were five crew on board.

The plane, operated by the private company RusAir, was travelling from Moscow’s Domodedovo airport.

Reports also suggested that most of the passengers were Russian, but a Swedish national was also on the aircraft. (ANI)