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Famed Russian Military Choir Among 92 Feared Dead After Plane Crashes Into Black Sea Famed Russian Military Choir Among 92 Feared Dead After Plane Crashes Into Black Sea
(about 2 hours later)
MOSCOW — All 92 people on board a Russian military aircraft, including members of a famed military choir bound for Syria to entertain Russian forces there, are believed to have died when their plane crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday after takeoff, the authorities said. MOSCOW — A Russian aircraft bound for Syria carrying a famed military band to entertain Russia’s forces there crashed into the Black Sea moments after takeoff Sunday, and the authorities said all 92 people aboard were believed killed.
The plane, a Russian-made Tu-154, disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from the resort town of Sochi. Russia’s official weather forecast agency said that conditions near the airport were “normal, easy,” the Interfax news agency reported. The military plane, a Russian-made Tu-154, disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from the resort town of Sochi. Russia’s official weather forecast agency said that conditions near the airport were “normal, easy,” the Interfax news agency reported.
Wreckage of the plane, which was carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members, was found in the sea, most of it about one mile from shore, the Russian Defense Ministry said.Wreckage of the plane, which was carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members, was found in the sea, most of it about one mile from shore, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
No survivors have been found at the crash site, the Defense Ministry said, The cause of the crash is under investigation, although initial Russian media reports indicated it was a technical failure rather than terrorism.No survivors have been found at the crash site, the Defense Ministry said, The cause of the crash is under investigation, although initial Russian media reports indicated it was a technical failure rather than terrorism.
Passengers on the flight, which originated in Moscow and stopped in Sochi to refuel, included 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian military choir, who were traveling to Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. The band planned to serenade Russian servicemen in Syria on New Year’s Eve.Passengers on the flight, which originated in Moscow and stopped in Sochi to refuel, included 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian military choir, who were traveling to Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. The band planned to serenade Russian servicemen in Syria on New Year’s Eve.
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.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.
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.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.
Yelizaveta P. Glinka, a prominent Russian philanthropist and a member of the presidential council on human rights and civil society, was also on the list of people on board. Mr. Putin recently awarded Mrs. Glinka with a state award for her human rights and charity work. Valery V. Khalilov, the ensemble’s artistic director, was also on the plane, according to the list of passengers.Yelizaveta P. Glinka, a prominent Russian philanthropist and a member of the presidential council on human rights and civil society, was also on the list of people on board. Mr. Putin recently awarded Mrs. Glinka with a state award for her human rights and charity work. Valery V. Khalilov, the ensemble’s artistic director, was also on the plane, according to the list of passengers.
Mr. Putin expressed his condolences to relatives of the victims, and he declared Monday a national day of mourning. (Christmas is not celebrated as an official holiday in Russia on Dec. 25, because the Russian Orthodox Church observes it on Jan. 7.)Mr. Putin expressed his condolences to relatives of the victims, and he declared Monday a national day of mourning. (Christmas is not celebrated as an official holiday in Russia on Dec. 25, because the Russian Orthodox Church observes it on Jan. 7.)
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of our citizens, who died today, as a result of an aviation catastrophe over the Black Sea this morning,” Mr. Putin said in St. Petersburg, according to remarks published on the Kremlin’s website.“First of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of our citizens, who died today, as a result of an aviation catastrophe over the Black Sea this morning,” Mr. Putin said in St. Petersburg, according to remarks published on the Kremlin’s website.
He also ordered Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev to establish a state commission, headed by the transportation minister, Maxim Sokolov, to investigate the crash. The Defense Ministry said that 10 bodies had been recovered so far as the search efforts continued, Interfax reported.He also ordered Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev to establish a state commission, headed by the transportation minister, Maxim Sokolov, to investigate the crash. The Defense Ministry said that 10 bodies had been recovered so far as the search efforts continued, Interfax reported.
Founded in the Soviet era, the Alexandrov Ensemble, which had performed in Syria earlier this year, 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, which had performed in Syria earlier this year, 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.”
The ensemble was founded by Aleksandr V. Aleksandrov, a prominent Soviet composer and author of the music of the Russian anthem, and his grandson Yevgeny told Meduza, a Russian news website, that “the best members of the ensemble died.”The ensemble was founded by Aleksandr V. Aleksandrov, a prominent Soviet composer and author of the music of the Russian anthem, and his grandson Yevgeny told Meduza, a Russian news website, that “the best members of the ensemble died.”
“All the best soloists, the whole choir,” he said. “Everything will collapse now, the best ones are gone.”“All the best soloists, the whole choir,” he said. “Everything will collapse now, the best ones are gone.”
Until recently, the Tu-154, which was designed in the 1960s, was one of the most widely used civilian aircraft in Russian aviation. The plane that crashed on Sunday was made in 1983, underwent planned maintenance work last fall, and was operated by an experienced pilot, the Defense Ministry said.Until recently, the Tu-154, which was designed in the 1960s, was one of the most widely used civilian aircraft in Russian aviation. The plane that crashed on Sunday was made in 1983, underwent planned maintenance work last fall, and was operated by an experienced pilot, the Defense Ministry said.
Russian airlines have mostly replaced outdated Soviet planes with new ones in recent years and vastly improved the overall safety record. Many government agencies continue to fly the Tu-154 and other old Soviet aircraft, however.Russian airlines have mostly replaced outdated Soviet planes with new ones in recent years and vastly improved the overall safety record. Many government agencies continue to fly the Tu-154 and other old Soviet aircraft, however.
Another Russian-made military plane crashed in eastern Siberia on Monday, with 16 of the 39 people on board seriously injured, and the aviation authorities recently grounded the country’s newest civilian airliner, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, because of concerns about metal fatigue.Another Russian-made military plane crashed in eastern Siberia on Monday, with 16 of the 39 people on board seriously injured, and the aviation authorities recently grounded the country’s newest civilian airliner, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, because of concerns about metal fatigue.
Several independent news outlets in Russia reported that the Alexandrov Ensemble planned to give a concert in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.Several independent news outlets in Russia reported that the Alexandrov Ensemble planned to give a concert in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.
Russian forces have been instrumental in helping the Damascus government regain the initiative, with the final rebels expelled from Aleppo on Thursday.Russian forces have been instrumental in helping the Damascus government regain the initiative, with the final rebels expelled from Aleppo on Thursday.
The Russian military has suffered only minor casualties throughout the deployment, but it has experienced a series of setbacks within recent days.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!”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.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, to mark the reclaiming of Palmyra.In May, the Russian military had flown a symphony orchestra led by one of its best-known conductors, Valery Gergiev, to mark the reclaiming of Palmyra.