Russian plane with 39 on board crash-lands in Siberia, many feared dead

Los Angeles : In a tragic incident, a Russian aircraft with 39 aboard crashed in the country's Sakha Republic on Monday.

Sputnik news agency reported that the Il-18 aircraft crashed near the Tiksi settlement.

According to reports, 32 passengers and seven crew members in the plane were part of the tragic incident. Sources also claimed that five of them have managed to survive in the incident so far.

However, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Defense Ministry announcing that all passengers and crew members survived the crash landing of the IL-18 plane, and 16 people were injured.

“As a result of the incident, all passengers and crew members are alive. 16 people were severely wounded. They have been evacuated to the hospitals in Tiksi by search and rescue helicopters,” the ministry’s statement read, as cited by RIA Novosti.

The ministry added, “According to the report from the scene, the plane crash landed today at 4:45 [local time] 30 kilometers from Tiksi Airport. The aircraft was carrying out a scheduled flight from Kansk Airfield.”

Ministry is trying to gather further details about the crash landing of IL-18. Meanwhile, the defense ministry commission has left for Yakutia.

The IL-18 plane first flew in 1957, and became one of the best known and most durable Soviet aircraft of its era.