Al-Bab Report
MOSCOW – A Russian military plane has crashed over the Black Sea having disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from the city of Sochi, Russian media has reported.
Rescue teams reportedly confirmed the suspected crash site of the missing Tu-154 aircraft near the Sochi coast.
The debris of the lost aircraft’s chassis has also been located in the area.
The defense ministry said that there were 83 passengers and 8 crew members on board and that search and rescue groups had been dispatched to locate the missing Tu-154.
Other news agencies, including Itar-Tass, reported that up to 100 people were on board.
Reports indicate that the plane disappeared from radar about 20 minutes after takeoff.
“Reports here in Moscow are saying that the passengers included journalists, military personnel and members of the famous Alexandrov Ensemble, an official army choir of the Russian armed forces,” Al Jazeera reported. “Rescue crews have been deployed to search for the aircraft.”
Those on board included Russian servicemen and artists from a musical ensemble who were on their way to celebrate the upcoming New Year with the Russian air force at the Hmeimin air base in Syria, RIA also quoted the Defence Ministry as saying.
Nine Russian journalists were also on board, it said.
It is feared that pro-rebels militant forces incluAling Daesh, Al-Qaeda and Jabhat al Nusra are behind downing the plane.
This is a developing story.
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