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Russian Military Plane With 92 Aboard Crashes Into Black Sea Russian Military Plane With 92 Aboard Crashes Into Black Sea
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — A Russian military aircraft carrying 92 people, including members of a famed military choir bound for Syria to entertain Russian forces there, crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday after takeoff from the resort town of Sochi, the Russian authorities said.MOSCOW — A Russian military aircraft carrying 92 people, including members of a famed military choir bound for Syria to entertain Russian forces there, crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday after takeoff from the resort town of Sochi, the Russian authorities said.
Most of the wreckage was found in the sea about one mile from shore, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that the plane carried 84 passengers and eight crew members. The country’s investigators have opened a criminal case into the crash. The plane, a Russian-made Tu-154, disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off. Russia’s official weather forecast agency said that conditions near the airport were “normal, easy,” the Interfax news agency reported.
There was no immediate official report about the fate of those aboard. The cause of the crash had not been determined, although the state-run Rossiya 24 newtwork said that a technical failure was the most likely cause. Wreckage was found in the sea, most of it about one mile from shore, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that the plane carried 84 passengers and eight crew members.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, although initial Russian media reports indicated it was a technical failure rather than terrorism. There was no immediate official report about the fate of those aboard.
The passengers included 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian military choir, who were traveling to Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria, and journalists who were covering the event. The band planned to congratulate Russian servicemen in Syria on New Year’s Eve.The passengers included 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian military choir, who were traveling to Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria, and journalists who were covering the event. The band planned to congratulate Russian servicemen in Syria on New Year’s Eve.
Three Channel One journalists, Russia’s main television station, were on board, as well as journalists from the Zvezda television, and the NTV television station, the media outlets said President Vladimir V. Putin deployed Russian armed forces in Syria in September 2015, ostensibly to fight terrorism but primarily to prop up President Bashar al-Assad, leader of the lone remaining Russian ally in the region.
The plane, a Russian-made Tu-154, disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from the resort town of Sochi on Sunday morning. Russia’s official weather forecast agency said that conditions near the airport were “normal, easy,” the Interfax news agency reported. Three Channel One journalists, Russia’s main television station, were on board, as were journalists from the Zvezda and NTV television networks, the media outlets said.
President Vladimir V. Putin was notified about the crash, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said. The rescue effort is led by Sergei K. Shoigu, the defense minister. Mr. Putin was notified about the crash, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said. The rescue effort is led by Sergei K. Shoigu, the defense minister.
Founded in the Soviet era, the Alexandrov Ensemble is the official band of the Russian armed forces. It consists of an orchestra, choir and a dance ensemble and is one of the two Russian orchestras allowed to use the title “Red Army Choir.”Founded in the Soviet era, the Alexandrov Ensemble is the official band of the Russian armed forces. It consists of an orchestra, choir and a dance ensemble and is one of the two Russian orchestras allowed to use the title “Red Army Choir.”
Until recently, the Tu-154 was one of the most widely used civilian aircraft in Russian aviation industries. Designed in the 1960s, the plane is still used by a number of Russian government agencies. Russian airlines have mostly replaced outdated Soviet planes with new ones.Until recently, the Tu-154 was one of the most widely used civilian aircraft in Russian aviation industries. Designed in the 1960s, the plane is still used by a number of Russian government agencies. Russian airlines have mostly replaced outdated Soviet planes with new ones.
Russian forces have been instrumental in helping the Damascus government regain the initiative, with the final rebels expelled from the major Syrian city of Aleppo by government forces on Thursday.
The Russian military has suffered only minor casualties throughout the deployment, but it has experienced a series of setbacks within recent days.
On Monday, the Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an art exhibit in Ankara, with the killer yelling “don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!”
That came not long after forces from the Islamic State recaptured the storied city of Palmyra, forcing the Russian garrison that had been stationed there since helping to take the city last spring to flee.
In May, the Russian military had flown a symphony orchestra led by one of its best-known conductors, Valery Gergiev, and the cellist Sergei P. Roldugin, to mark the reclaiming of Palmyra.