Fifty people were killed as a passenger jet crashed on landing in the city of Kazan in the republic of Tatarstan, a spokeswoman for the Emergency Situations Ministry said Sunday.
Irina Rossius said the jet, a Boeing 737, bound from Moscow to Kazan with 50 people on board, crashed at 7:30 p.m. Moscow time, adding that there was an explosion. According to preliminary data, all those on board died, including Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov’s son Irek and regional Federal Security Service department chief Lieutenant General Alexander Antonov, officials said.
Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said a criminal case has been opened on charges of violating safety rules in the operation of air transportation, Interfax reported.
The pilot tried to make a second landing attempt and the jet lost altitude, hitting the ground, according to reports. The airport in Kazan is now closed, a spokesman for Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya said.
The Rossia-24 television channel reported that there were 44 passengers and six crew on board. The Interior Ministry said the plane belonged to Tatarstan Airlines.
Crew error is believed to be one of the possible reasons for the crash, a law enforcement official said.
An investigation is under way, with Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin due to arrive at the crash site on Monday. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to establish a commission to investigate the crash.
The fire on the crash site has been extinguished, a local law enforcement source said.
Relatives of the crash victims will receive about 2 million rubles ($61,360) from insurance company Sogaz for each killed passenger, a Sogaz official said.
Monday has been declared a day of mourning for the crash victims in Tatarstan.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
