Lagatar24 Desk
Moscow (Russia), Oct 10: 16 people were killed and seven others injured after a plane crashed in Russia’s Tatarstan region. Emergency ministry officials said that 16 people died on the spot in the accident, while 7 injured were pulled from the wreckage of the plane. There were 23 people on board the plane, including 21 parachute divers. The local health ministry said one of the seven injured was in critical condition.
According to the Russian media reports, the plane was a Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft and was owned by an aero club. It is a twin engine short range turbo prop aircraft. This transport plane was built in the Czech Republic in the early 1970s.
According to the emergency service, two pilots of the plane are also among the 16 people who died. The 7 people who were pulled alive from the rubble were also badly injured. Witnesses said the plane crashed to the ground soon after takeoff. As soon as it fell, the body of the plane was completely shattered and only part of its tail was visible.
Accidents, especially involving ageing planes in far-flung regions, are not uncommon in Russia. Last month, an Antonov An-26 transport plane crashed in Russia, killing 6 people. At the same time, in July this year, an Antonov An-26 twin engine turboprop crashed in Kamchatka, killing all 28 people on board. Russian aviation safety standards have improved over the years, but only older aircraft are being operated in remote areas. This is the reason why there has been no reduction in plane accidents in Russia.