Russia faces one of its worst aviation disasters as Saratov Airlines flight carrying 71 crashes; Vladimir Putin offers condolences
A Russian passenger plane carrying 71 people crashed near Moscow on Sunday minutes after taking off, killing everyone on board in one of the country’s worst ever aviation disasters.
)
A Russian passenger plane carrying 71 people crashed near Moscow on Sunday minutes after taking off, killing everyone on board in one of the country’s worst ever aviation disasters. Reuters
)
Investigators said the Antonov An-148 plane went down in the Ramensky district on the outskirts of Moscow at 2.48 pm (11.28 GMT) after taking off from Domodedovo airport in the capital. Reuters
)
The flight was operated by the domestic Saratov Airlines and was headed for Orsk, a city in the Ural mountains. PTI
)
The site was enveloped in heavy snow, making it difficult to access, with emergency workers forced to park their vehicles and reach the wreckage by foot. Others used snowmobiles and drones to survey the scene. PTI
)
Russia’s Investigative Committee said numerous possible causes of the crash would be considered, including weather conditions as the country has experienced record snowfall in recent weeks. Reuters
)
Russian president Vladimir Putin offered “his profound condolences to those who lost their relatives in the crash,” his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin also cancelled plans to travel to Sochi to meet Palestine’s Mahmoud Abbas. PTI


)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
