MOSCOW: All 92 on board passenger feared dead after Russian military aircraft crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday. So far, debris and 11 bodies have been found, with no reports of survivors.
The Tupolev-154 was carrying soldiers, reporters and 64 members of the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble who were to perform for Russian troops.
President Vladimir Putin has said Monday will be a day of national mourning.
The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi at 05:25 (02:25 GMT), heading for Latakia in Syria, the defence ministry said.
Investigators said they are looking into every possible cause for the crash, including a terror attack. Earlier, a Russian official had downplayed any suggestion of a terror attack.
The flight had originated in Moscow and landed at Adler airport in Sochi for refuelling.
Tupolev-154 three engines, narrow-bodied and medium range plane considered as Russian workhorse and the backbone of Soviet and Russian airlines for decades.
Designed in the mid-60s, came into service in 1972 and was modernised in 1986 with new engines and equipment
Before today’s incident, 39 fatal accidents has seen, although few were due to technical problems. Many were as a result of difficult weather conditions and poor air traffic control. A few were lost in conflicts including in Lebanon, Georgia and Afghanistan.
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