Russian TU-154 Military Plane With 92 On Board Crashes In Sea Near Sochi, 1 Body Found

Moscow: A Russian military plane on its way to Syria with 92 on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, adding that survivors were unlikely. At least one body has been recovered from the waters, Russian Defence Ministry said.

"The body of a person killed as a result the crash of the Russian defence ministry's Tu-154 was found six kilometres off the coast of Sochi," Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told agencies.

A rescue team located the crash site in the Black Sea near the coast of Sochi and soon after the plane's debris was found, news agency Interfax said.

"Fragments of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian defence ministry were found 1.5 kilometres from the Black Sea coast of the city of Sochi at a depth of 50 to 70 metres," the ministry said.

Russia's news agency RIA, citing an unidentified security source, said preliminary data indicated the plane had crashed because of a technical malfunction. It was not immediately possible to verify that report.

Those on board included Russian servicemen and artists from a musical ensemble, the Red Army Choir, who were on their way to celebrate the upcoming New Year with the Russian air force at the Hmeimin air base in Syria, RIA also quoted the Defence Ministry as saying. Nine Russian journalists were also on board, it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an investigation into the crash.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to form and head a state commission to investigate the crash of the Tu-154 plane in Sochi," the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that Putin expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the crash.

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)