Russian Il-18 Plane with 39 on Board Crash-Lands in Siberia

An Il-18 plane has crashed in Russia`s Sakha Republic (Yakutia) on Monday.

"As a result of the accident, all passengers and crew members are alive. Sixteen individuals sustained severe injuries. Search-and-rescue helicopters have evacuated them," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The plane had 39 individuals on board. Sources earlier said four or five people are likely to have survived.

"According to preliminary information, the plane broke into three, it [the crash] was not followed by fire outbreak," a source in the law enforcement said. Among the 39 people on board, 32 were passengers and seven were crew members.

The source said a crew error as well as adverse weather conditions could have caused the crash.

The crash site was located and three Mi-8 helicopters of the Russian Emergencies Ministry were sent to it. The plane belonged to the Russian Aerospace Forces and carried officers.

Source: Sputnik News