Russia: At least 16 people die in plane crash | They were civilian paratroopers

At least 16 people have died this Sunday and six were seriously injured when a plane carrying civilian paratroopers crashed in central Russia, reported the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

“Seven people were rescued and 15 are showing no signs of life,” they said from the ministry’s Telegram account.

The plane, made in the Czech Republic and from type L-410, crashed at 9.23 (3.23 Argentina time) in Tatarstan, with 22 people on board. According to images released by the ministry and subsequently reproduced by AFP, the plane was split in two by the impact

The seven survivors were hospitalized and one of them is “in serious condition,” RIA Novosti reported, citing a source from the local health ministry.

According to the Interfax press agency, the plane belonged to a local club of the paramilitary organization Dosaaf, a company providing assistance to the army, aviation and navy.

Russia has improved aviation safety since the 2000s, but crashes are still common, especially in sparsely populated areas like the Far East.