Russian Defence Ministry jet carrying 91 people disappears from radar

Moscow [Russia], Dec. 25 : A Russian Defence Ministry aircraft, Tu-154 carrying around 91 people has disappeared from radars after departing from Russia's southern city of Sochi on Sunday.

According to a report in Russia's Sputnik news agency, the jet with some 91 people onboard, including 83 passengers and eight crew members, lost contact with land while flying over the Black Sea.

Journalists, military personnel, musicians from Alexandrov Ensemble, an official army choir of the Russian armed forces, were onboard.

Initially it was reported that the plane was carrying some 70 people. The preliminary data shows that the disappeared plane was heading to Syria's Latakia. According to a source, the jet disappeared from radars 20 minutes after departing from Sochi, Krasnodar Krai.

All rescue services of Krasnodar Krai and neighboring regions have been engaged in the search operation.

Source: ANI