This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-14822582

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Russian airliner in fatal crash near Yaroslavl Russia's Lokomotiv ice hockey team in air disaster
(about 1 hour later)
An airliner carrying members of a major league ice hockey team has crashed in Russia killing 43 people. A chartered jet carrying Russia's major league ice hockey team Lokomotiv has crashed on take-off near the central city of Yaroslavl, with 43 deaths.
Witnesses saw the plane burst into flames shortly after taking off from an airport at the city of Yaroslavl, about 250km (160 miles) north-east of Moscow. Two people survived with serious injuries after the disaster, which saw the jet burst into flames shortly after leaving an airport near the city.
Investigators found wreckage of the plane in the Volga river. It appears many of the team were aboard, heading to Belarus for the season's first match.
Members of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team were on board the plane, on their way to Belarus for the first match of the season. Russian reports suggest the jet may have struck a radio mast.
Officials said two people were unaccounted for after the crash, the cause of which has not been confirmed. Witnesses saw it burst into flames shortly after taking off from the airport, about 250km (160 miles) north-east of Moscow.
A number of foreign citizens were killed, including the team's Canadian coach, Brad McKinnon, and Swedish goalie Stefan Liv.
Russian player Alexander Galimov survived the crash with 80% burns along with a member of the crew. Russian media briefly reported the player had died of his injuries, but a medical source later told the Russian news website Sovetsky Sport he was still alive.
The chairman of the board of directors of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Vyacheslav Fetisov, described the air disaster as an "irreparable loss for world ice hockey".
Flames 'nine storeys high'Flames 'nine storeys high'
The team, which had been due to play Dinamo Minsk on Thursday, includes players from Germany, Sweden, and Slovakia as well as Russia. The team, which had been due to play Dinamo Minsk on Thursday, include players from Germany and Slovakia.
It was not clear how many of the fatalities were members of the team.
The reigning champions Ufa had already started their first game of the Kontinental Hockey League season, but abandoned the match when the seriousness of the crash became clear.
"In such a situation, after their friends and colleagues died, the players of both teams considered playing to be absolutely impossible," KHL president Alexander Medvedev said.
The 10,000-strong crowd in Ufa's stadium held a minute's silence for the victims of the crash.
The plane, a Yak-42, had a capacity of more than 100 passengers, but it is thought only 45 people were on board.
A local policeman told the BBC Russian service he had seen the plane come down.A local policeman told the BBC Russian service he had seen the plane come down.
He said the plane had barely taken off before it plunged to the ground, and he saw "flames as high as a nine-storey building".He said the plane had barely taken off before it plunged to the ground, and he saw "flames as high as a nine-storey building".
Russian aviation officials were quoted as saying the Yak-42 jet had failed to gain height and hit a radio mast, breaking up and catching fire.
The reigning champions Ufa had already started their first game of the KHL season, but abandoned the match when the gravity of the crash became clear.
"In such a situation, after their friends and colleagues died, the players of both teams considered playing to be absolutely impossible," KHL president Alexander Medvedev said.
The 10,000-strong crowd in Ufa's stadium held a minute's silence for the victims of the crash.
President Dmitry Medvedev was due to travel to Yaroslavl for a forum later in the week, and his spokeswoman says he will alter his schedule to visit the crash site.President Dmitry Medvedev was due to travel to Yaroslavl for a forum later in the week, and his spokeswoman says he will alter his schedule to visit the crash site.
Mr Medvedev has promised to overhaul the industry and take out of service ageing jets from the Soviet era.Mr Medvedev has promised to overhaul the industry and take out of service ageing jets from the Soviet era.
The country has a poor aviation safety record. In July this year a passenger plane crashed in northern Russia and 44 people died.The country has a poor aviation safety record. In July this year a passenger plane crashed in northern Russia and 44 people died.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Please use the form below to share your comments and experiences with the BBC.Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Please use the form below to share your comments and experiences with the BBC.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions