Russian plane heading to Latakia crashes after take-off from Sochi

A Russian Tu-154 plane, which was on its way to Latakia in Syria, crashed on the coast of Sochi. The the site of the crash was identified, 1.5 km from the coast of Sochi from 50 to 70 meters deep in the Black sea, Interfax reported quoting the Russian defence ministry as saying.

Vladimir Ivanovesky, the commander of the Russian military police, a brigadier, a colonel, a major, a captain and a 64-member choir were on board of the crashed plane, Tass news agency reported. 

Earlier today, all contacts with the Russian plane, which was carrying 83 passengers and 10 crew members were lost. "There is a strong likelihood that the plane crashed in the Black Sea after disappearing off the radar a short time after taking off from the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, Al Jazeera quoted Russian media as saying.

"The plane carried a choir, journalists and musicians on board. It crashed in Krasnodar province after 20 minutes of the take-off ," Al-Arabia al-Hadeth reported and added that it took off from Moscow, was flying to the Russian Khmeimim airbase in Latakia, Syria, where the country has a large military presence, for a concert ahead of New Year’s Eve.

The plane underwent routine maintenance in September and was operated by an experienced pilot, the ministry of defense said according to Sputnik.

Russian defense ministry said that a technical fault was behind the crash. Any terrorist act was ruled out. 

History of technical faults   

Russian Su-33 warplane crashed on the fifth of December while landing on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, Russian news agencies reported then citing a statement from the Russian defense ministry.

In November, a Russian MiG-29 warplane also crashed into the water while preparing to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier. Russia has been conducting a bombing campaign against opposition groups in Syria for more than a year in support of Assad regime.