A Russian passenger plane carrying up to 71 people that was originally thought missing after it took off has crashed near Moscow shortly after taking off, Russian officials confirmed Sunday.
Russian media outlets were heavily reporting the event. Some reports said all 71 people on board are believed to be dead, while some outlets initially reported that at least two bodies have been found in the wreckage. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry confirmed the crash and said it was investigating the scene, and that fragments of the plane have been found.
JUST IN: Passenger plane with 71 aboard crashes near Moscow, Russian media reports
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 11, 2018
A source told Russian news agency TASS that the An-148 plane crash might have been due to a technical malfunction, a pilot’s error or the weather. All people on board are believed to be dead, news outlets are reporting.
“Fragments of the An-148 and several bodies […] have been found near the village of Stepanovskoye,” a Russian Emergency Ministry spokesman told TASS.
The plane took off from Domodedovo Airport in Moscow and was en route to Orsk, reports are saying.
“We have received reports that an An-148 passenger plane that took off from Moscow’s Domodedovo for Orsk airport went missing from radars. A team of rescuers has been sent to the presumable crash site in Moscow region’s Ramensky district,” TASS’ source had reported.
“Eyewitnesses have said they saw the plane crash into the ground and was reportedly on fire,” The Daily Star reported.
This is unconfirmed footage of fragments of the plane found after the crash:
Самолет АН-148, вылетевший из Домодедово в Орск, потерпел крушение. На борту было 65 пассажиров и экипаж.
Первые кадры с места крушения. pic.twitter.com/8qYGyohNq5— Двач (@ru2ch) February 11, 2018
The plane was initially thought missing after going off radar after it took off.
Flight #6W703 took off from Moscow at 11:22 UTC time and 5 minutes later we tracked it descenting with 3300 feet per minute before the signal was lost. pic.twitter.com/6Bt5rCiKlm
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 11, 2018
