At least 16 people die in plane crash in Russia

At least 16 people died on Sunday in the city of Menzelinsk, east of the Russian republic of Tatarstan, when a plane crashed light L-410 Turbolet, aboard which flew 21 paratroopers and two crew members, according to the regional management of the Russian Emergency Ministry.

“At 9:23 am (GMT + 3), a report arrived that a light plane fell near an electricity utility base in Menzelinsk,” the regional emergency directorate reported.

The fire and rescue units, which immediately went to the scene of the accident aboard an official Mi-8 helicopter, managed to contain the flames and extract from the plane seven survivors, including one. seriously injured, according to the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.

The authorities indicate that a technical failure is the most likely cause of the incident. The two pilots, according to preliminary information, constitute the list of victims.

The plane, which belonged to a local flying club, crashed shortly after taking off just over a kilometer from the airfield, an emergency services representative told the Russian TASS agency.

The L-410 is a Czech-made twin-engine aircraft capable of carrying up to 19 passengers (less than its capacity at the time of the accident) or 1.8 tonnes of cargo, over distances of up to 1,500 kilometers.

One of its main features is that it can be used on short runway and land aerodromes.

Another accident in Italy

A week ago, a small private plane crashed into a building on Calle Marignano, in San Donato Milanese (Milan), killing all eight people on board, including a wealthy Romanian businessman.

The plane had taken off from Linate, Milan’s international airport, bound for Olbia, a coastal town in the northeast of the island of Sardinia.

The plane fell on an empty building being renovated, used as offices and parking for buses. Residents of the area heard a loud whistle and then an explosion, caused by the impact.

The deceased are the pilot, the co-pilot, five adults and a child.

With agency information