A Russian defence ministry plane, carrying 92 people on route to Syria, has crashed into the Black Sea near Sochi.
The ministry said no survivors had been found at the crash site, where a huge search operation is underway.
Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: "Four vessels and five helicopters are currently operating in the plane search area, as well as drones. Re-enforcement has been dispatched to the area."
No survivors in #Tu154 plane #crash near Sochi - Defense Ministryhttps://t.co/ATgGLAFPl4- TASS (@tassagency_en) December 25, 2016
The Tupolev-154 was carrying mainly musicians from the famed Alexandrov Ensemble (previously known as the Red Army Choir). They were on route to the Khmeimim air base near Latakia for a new year concert.
Most of the 84 passengers were members of the choir, along with nine journalists.
Charity activist Dr. Elizaveta Glinka was also among those on board, the Presidential Council for Human Rights confirmed.
The defence ministry published a passenger list online, along with a hotline number for information: (Ru) 8-800-100-18-86
Eight crew members were on the plane.
The TU-154 disappeared from radar at around minutes after taking off near Sochi, where it had stopped to refuel, at 2.40 GMT.
Viktor Ozerov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee said he "totally excludes" terrorism as a cause of the crash, Russian media reported. Ozerov said the crash could have been caused by a technical malfunction or crew error.
↧