At least 31 are dead, the others are in serious condition: terrible air crash in Russia

As a result of terrible air crash at least 31 people were killed in Russia. The passenger plane crashed whilst trying to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off near the western Siberian city of Tyumen on Monday, Ria Novosti informs referring to the Russian emergencies ministry.

All the crew members were among the dead, but twelve survivors were taken to hospital, all in a serious condition. According to police information there were no children on board.

There were 39 passengers and four crew on board the turboprop ATR-72 airliner which was operated by UTair airline. The aircraft was bound for the oil town of Surgut. 

All the bodies were recovered and the plane wreckage is being examined. 

UTair said the aircraft was trying to perform an emergency landing when it went down some three kilometers from Tyumen‘s Roshchino airport.

Eyewitnesses said they saw smoke coming from the plane’s twin engines as it plunged to the ground at around 01:50 GMT.

The cause of the crash is not clear. The flight recorders have been recovered and a team of investigators has flown to the scene from Moscow.

A criminal investigation has been launched into the incident.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has put off a planned meeting with leaders of Russia‘s unregistered political parties because of the crash, his spokeswoman said.

Deputy Transport Minister Valery Okulov has been appointed head of a government inquiry into the crash.

The plane should have been carrying 40 passengers as one person arrived late for the flight, Tyumen deputy prosecutor Valentin Tarasov said.

As Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Armenian media there was no Armenian in the plane.