Pilot error or technical faults could be a reason for Sunday’s crash of a Russian Tu-154 plane carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members, said Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov. The rescue teams are searching for victims using ships, helicopters and drones following the Russian plane to Syria crashed into the Black Sea soon after the takeoff.
The investigators are looking into every possible cause for the crash, including a terror attack. All 84 passengers and eight crew members are said to have died after the plane crashed minutes after taking off in a good weather from the southern Russian city of Sochi.
The passengers on the Russian military’s Tu-154 plane included dozens of singers in Russia’s world-famous military choir. Russia is also observing a national day of mourning on December 26 for large numbers of people being killed.
Also read: Russia examines all possible reasons for plane crash, including a terror attack
Over 3,000 rescue workers on 32 ships flown in from across Russia were searching crash spot at sea and along the shore, said the Defense Ministry. Along with helicopters, drones, submersibles are also being used to help trace bodies and debris.
The military plane disappeared from radar minutes after taking off from Sochi’s Adler airport at 7:50 am IST. “Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5km from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 metres,” defence ministry said in a statement.
Also read: Russian military plane crashes in Black Sea near Sochi
Post the incident debris and several bodies have been found, with no reports of survivors. The plane on its way to Latakia in Syria was carrying 92 people, including service personnel, a military music band and journalists.
